Originally Posted by centerline
Thanks for the replies. I know I shouldn't have screamed at him, and as soon as I did, I felt like a moron. I guess I need to act more civilized if I get into another situation to where I feel threatened. Plus, I just need to learn to not curse or flip people off, it does just make the situation worse, I totally agree. I guess he just threw me off this morning. I mean he stopped at the stop sign while I was a good 500 ft back and waited until I was almost directly in front of him before he decided to go, I thought that if he was going to pull out in front of me, he would have done it sooner, instead of waiting until I'm right there a few feet in front of him.
Oh well, you live and you learn, and try not to repeat your mistakes.
Don't assume malice when stupidity will suffice. He may not have seen you, even if you assume he did. People so stupid things all the time. Perhaps he was on the phone or listening to the radio or any number of other things people do in their cars that they shouldn't. You, as a cyclist, should ride as if you are invisible. Don't ride to make yourself invisible but assume that every bonehead and moron on the road can see no further than their windshield wipers and doesn't pay attention to anything that's further away then the end of their nose.
I make eye contact with every driver on the road before I proceed and then assume that they still haven't seen me.