as much as it pains me to say it, sometimes it pays to be a 'defensive driver' on a bicycle. OP, I'm in no way stating that you were in the wrong, or that you weren't doing just that— but cars weigh a lot more than you do, and the people steering them are often paying much less attention to their surroundings. I ride with presence whenever possible, but if there's a cager with a hate streak or a happy meal to finish, I'll give them a wide berth to stay out of harm's way.