Howdy all,

Well I don't really commute to work (yet! I'm about to start a new job that is encouraging it, which is great!), but I use my bike as transportation, and I read this forum, so this is an apt place to post.

Today I was out riding with my significant other, a block from our house. (By the way, Boston/MA has recently signed laws emphasizing biker rights, including the right to ride two abreast on a multiple lane street. Many of the laws were already on the books, but this new legislation made them more explicit.)

We were crossing a bridge from Cambridge to Boston, taking the lane in full - single file, but still taking the lane), on a multiple lane, one way street, rolling up to a red light. We were second at the light, behind another car.

Before we come to a stop, a fat guy in an SUV, on his cell phone, with windows down, comes up directly behind us, and from a ways back, starts yelling at us. I had no idea what was happening, until I could hear what he was saying.

I'm looking ahead (riding a bike after all), until I come to a stop, and he's just screaming, going nuts. We're MotherF****'s, F****s, A**H****s, and everything else you've ever heard. "Get out of the F**** road!" "Move over!" "I'm gonna kill you, you a**h****!" "I'm going to spit on you as I drive past you, you motherf*******!"

He literally said all of these things, without provocation. We were pulling up to a red light, and while there were many cars around, he could easily have chosen the left lane and once the light turned green, gone right past us without incident.

Learning from these forums, I turned, smiled and waved, and proceeded to loudly recite his license plate number, so he could hear me.

This made him even more mad, and while I did put on a brave front, I was really afraid for the safety of me and my girlfriend. His ranting was absolutely hilarious, for its sheer insanity, so I was laughing, but it was scary too - anyone crazy enough to scream like this might actually snap and decide to "teach me a lesson". His car is a weapon, and I didn't know whether or not he might choose to use it as such.

I didn't talk to him, or engage him otherwise, just the smile and wave, and reciting his license plate.

Fortunately, he just changed lanes, and drove past me, shouting and swearing at me.

He didn't spit on me, however, as he passed to the left, and his son was in the passenger seat next to him.

Unfortunately, I was in a bit of shock, so I forgot the license plate number that I had just said out loud.

What would you all do?

My number one priority is safety. I will NOT get into a fight/altercation, so don't advise me to do so.