I had a new one today. On my inbound commute, I came to an intersection in the downtown area. It was still early enough that the traffic wasn't really busy, but there were a few cars around.

I stopped at a red light on a 2 lane road the intersects with a 4 lane road. There were enough cars on the 4 lane road that I didn't want to just ride across, so I stopped and unclipped.

A city bus pulls in behind me and starts honking his horn. Mostly, I ignore honking things behind me (I worry much more about the ones who don't see me, and the honkers must have seen me or they wouldn't be honking). This time, I turn around and look at him, and point at the red light. He opens his window and starts shouting "Right on Red!!! Right on Red!!!". Of course, I was going straight, but that didn't seem to be important to him.

There was really no place to go to get out of his way. A full size bus turning right would take up most of the intersection. A few seconds later, the light turns green, and I pedal across the intersection. The bus turns right behind me (I checked the mirror to be sure).

My theory about all of this is that for all of the anger about cyclists who run red light and stop signs, terrorize little old ladies and go up one way streets the wrong way, there are really only 2 important facts:

1) On average, a bicycle is slower than a car

2) Occasionally there will be bicycle in front of a car.

Personally, I don't think I've ever held up a motorist for more than 30 seconds. Of course, by second number 12 or 13, the driver is ranting and fuming (and/or honking). I think we have to recognize that we cannot change these facts, we just have to smile and wave and ignore the idiots.