Originally Posted by
bike2math
I'm calling BS. I've never met a driver who at the same time: honked at me, was willing to stop and talk, kept the discussion civil, kept the discussion rational, willingly turned the conversation away from "you have no right to be in the road", didn't call me a ******.
In my experience you can have at most three of these at a time but all six!! Unheard of, the bicycling equivalent of a unicorn or mermaid.
I'll call your BS... I have run into situations like this... Where no yelling or cussing took place, but the responses were still irrational.
The most memorable situation was while I took an LAB road 2 class. (even Helmet Head witnessed this) and I was making a legal left; I was honked at and I confronted the motorist. His response was similar to the OP's situation... the motorist told me I should be riding "like other cyclists" indicating "curb huggers." I asked how then I should make a left turn. His irrational response: "I donno, you figure it out."
Yeah these encounters happen... the cyclist has to take the upper hand and not let anger become part of the situation.
BTW the truth is that it doesn't happen often... usually encounters like this end with the motorist quickly driving off with a dismissive remark or "sign."