During my normal morning commute today, I was on a major road (45+ mph). It has 2 lanes in either direction, plus a center turn lane. This arterial has NOL (gutter and curb, with storm drains). As usual, I took the right lane; I figure people can easily pass me in the left lane, and I'm only on this road for about .5 miles. After that, I make a right turn onto another similar road. There's a right-turn lane for this purpose.

This morning a driver passed me in the left lane as we approached the stopped traffic waiting to get into the right turn lane, then changed into the right lane in front of me. Although it was a little tight, there was room for him to fit in. Then--and this surprised/confused me--he moved over a little to the left to let me by!

I didn't take him up on his "offer". I've nearly been right-hooked on this road before, and even if I had passed him, I would have had to pass another dozen or so cars on the right, just so I could wait at the light anyway. I stayed in the middle of the right lane behind him, signalling a right turn.

Here's the topper. The light changed and I stayed behind him through the turn. Once we made the turn, he pulled alongside me with his window down and started telling me that I should have passed him. I had trouble hearing him (we were travelling at least 15 mph), but I clearly heard him say, "I know! I ride too!"

First question: Should I have taken him up on his offer to pass him on the right? If so, why? If not, was my reasoning correct?

Second question (and this one is rhetorical): What kind of "cyclist" would squeeze into that space when driving in the first place??? Aren't you much more cautious around your fellow cyclists when you're driving?