I had 3 annoyances on my way home today.

1st was a police officer. I was heading south on a two-lane downhill section of road, taking the lane because 1) I was going as fast as traffic and 2) there was an intersection with a RTOL to an arterial onramp. Cop in front of me sticks his hand out the window and points to his right, ala "get to the right.." I ignore the gesture, since there is another intersection right away, and again, I am not slowing anyone down, and am not interested in a right-hook. At the next intersection, he goes through a yellow light, and I stop, in the middle of the lane, so cars can get by me to turn right, if they need to. He pulls off to the side to wait to see if I am going to "get to the right". Fortunately for him ;-) there isn't another intersection for a while and a decent bike lane, so at the green, I go through the intersection, and moved to the right. Otherwise, he would have gotten lectured by a smart-ass with a copy of the vehicle code handy. Ticket or no, I am ready to stand up to anyone foolish enough to give unsafe advice. Amateurs...

2nd was a blonde in a bmw. I'm on a two-lane street with a narrow lane and cars parked along the road. I'm riding just outside the door lane. Most cars either change lanes, or go half-way into the other lane to pass. I see the bmw in my rear view, and hear her honk long. I make a "pass me" gesture. She honks long again. Apparently, she is turning right into an apartment complex, and is annoyed? at the 10 second delay. She earns the distinction of receiving my first middle-finger of the year. How dumb does she have to be? If she had the speed to safely pass, then she could have. If not, exactly how am I delaying her? Should I stop and pull over so that she can get on with her important business

3rd was a guy in a junker. Another two lane street with a door zone. He gives me a long honk. When the road widens after a block, I move over enough for him to pass. He lays on the gas. I draft him. He avoids my gaze at the redlight. Later, when traffic comes to halt in the right lane, I signal and merge into the left lane, and make a left turn in a couple blocks, while the right lane is completely backed-up. See ya' sucker!

What is up with people? They have been so good until the time change... perhaps the sunlight is making them realize how quickly they want to get home so they can get out of their workclothes and go play in the sun and fresh air... ahem, ahem..

I think I would be most annoyed at the cop... Before I start biking to the city (which I hope to do soon, if not this school year, then next school year) I should get me one of 'dem road hand books and familiarize myself with provincial road regulations so that I am ready, just in case some cop tries to ding me with a bogus charge of unsafe cycling.

Which streets?

And where do you get a copy of your vehicle codes so I too can be a smart ass.

1st one - Southbound on Mission Center Roads, by Friars.

2nd one - Westbound Camino de la Reina, just west of Mission Center Road

3rd one - Eastbound Washington Street, a few blocks before Park.

I have my copy attached to the free map from Sandag. The map is great for trip planning - color coded separated routes, bike lanes, "share the road" routes, and recommended roads.

EDIT: They are "printing" new copies of the map. You can backorder it over the phone or online https://www.ridelink.org/Commuter_Ser...Order_Form.asp

i have things like that about every year.
so far in '07, nothing, but the year is young.

last year, riding to work in the spring, down a secondary artery, no other traffic in sight, and i'm just out of the door lane. beep-beep! little downward push of the hand to 'maintain, dude'. longer hoonnkk!, and i give him the Ullrich backhand wave (Nantes TT, '03). HHHHHOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!
EAGLE TIME!
at the end of the row of parked cars, this bag of fecal leavings cuts his front end at me, trying run me off the road, yelling that he's gonna run me over and shoot me -- all the time his girlfriend in the pass. seat, screaming at him to "just go on!"
i waved at him to pull ver and get on out -- i couldn't keep up with him as he drove off.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Jeeze, you guys in Southern California have it real tough. I don't know how you all can make it through the day. Brutal weather, drivers who give you a long looks... who can ride under such conditions? I salute you all.

I get aholes either honking or yelling at me (or both) as they speed pass me.... frequently. A couple days ago I had some jerk throw some dust type substance in my face (he was on a bus). Then after that there were a couple guy at an intersection I'm not sure but when they told me I could go when the light turned green (they were turning to the right in front of me) I just got a bad feeling about it (too much to explain to go through all the details). Then a few minutes later some other guys who had just waved me to cross the street (they were also going to turn to the right in front of me) instead decided not to turn, but to fly pass me at high rate of speed (I was down the street 40 yards or so). Of cores there had to be one last ahole that couldn't resisted speeding pass me (I'm in the bike lane DAMN IT!) and whale on their horn. WHAT THE HELL CAN ONE DO!!!!

Note I said "annoying" not "disastrous" "infuriating" "tragic"
We are allowed to complain about less around here, because we pay twice as much in housing costs, and don't really earn much more.

I think you did good.... like you said, they're just annoyances. Heck, I don't even hear the honks any more. Any verbal BS is met with a continuous "pull over, pull over, pull over" while using my lock to point to a convenient place to pull over and stop.... haven't had anyone take up the invitation yet.