I like hearing stories like these. I have to say the majority of honking I get is the positive, "hello" honk. Just today as I commuted across town someone in the passenger seat of a passing car yelled something. I am so inclined to think it was something negative and when I thought about it I realized he had said, "Hey Dude."

I've had to switch my normal responses here in South Central Los Angeles as every day I get thumbs up, smiles, and waves. Still the best ones are the kids who smile big, wave, and sometimes say, "hello." I think it's because they still understand the pure joy of riding a bike.

Don't get me wrong I'll still flip someone off or yell when they have it coming, but even when you are in the right you most likely end up looking like a jackass. In the end it's better just to focus on riding well and giving the jackasses an out. I find it so funny that someone who can't wait a couple of seconds to get around me will then have all the time in the world to pull over and pick a fight.