Once I got into an argument with a guy who had passed me very closely. I screamed at him and he yelled back. It lasted through several lights and at the last light (I knew he was turning and I was going straight), I said, "Look, can I just say something?"

He nodded, so I continued. "It's just really scary when you pass me that closely. That's why I screamed. I'm afraid of being hit."

He agreed that it would be pretty scary and I said, "Thank you for understanding. You have a good day." He wished me the same and we parted ways.

I will win this city over, one driver at a time.

Another time, a guy was upset with me because he couldn't pass somebody on the right because I was in the right lane. He beeped and then stopped at a light to tell me, "It's g-ddamned stupid to ride a bike on an icy street like this." I removed my face mask and said, "Please don't risk my life because you're in a hurry, sir. That's all I ask."

He screamed "F*** you!" and drove off very quickly.

I'm all about the Zen. I won over the first guy and shamed the heck out of the second.