Let me guess. You live in an American suburb. - Edit 1
Before modification by Ghavrel at 28/06/2010 06:12:30 AM
The story isn't that exciting. It's just that I could probably count the times I've been yelled at in my adult life on a single hand. So getting yelled at is sort of an event. Also, I need to vent 
.
Anyway, first he honked at me. Luckily I was prepared for this after reading some horror stories from other cyclists and didn't get startled and crash.
Then when the guy passed me he yelled "Get on the sidewalk where you belong, dumb ass!"
I don't have much understanding for this in any situation. Cyclists have as much right to the road as anyone. That doesn't mean I think they should be riding a bike on a busy 35+ mph zone and slowing everyone else down. But this was a residential area. The speed limit is 25mph and I was riding 15. It's actually illegal in most places for bicycles to use the sidewalk, and frowned upon in others. I always make way for cars when I'm riding though.
In my town, where I ride, there is a car sticking out and blocking the sidewalk in every 3rd driveway. It's not possible to use the sidewalk. But more importantly, my town has a population of 7,500. It was Sunday at 11pm. There were literally (and I know it for a fact because the town is so quiet I could have heard them) no other moving vehicles in a 1/2 mile radius, and no parked cars on the road I was using. I could have driven 3 18-wheelers side by side on the road, and this idiot yells at me. It took no effort for him to pass me.
.Anyway, first he honked at me. Luckily I was prepared for this after reading some horror stories from other cyclists and didn't get startled and crash.
Then when the guy passed me he yelled "Get on the sidewalk where you belong, dumb ass!"
I don't have much understanding for this in any situation. Cyclists have as much right to the road as anyone. That doesn't mean I think they should be riding a bike on a busy 35+ mph zone and slowing everyone else down. But this was a residential area. The speed limit is 25mph and I was riding 15. It's actually illegal in most places for bicycles to use the sidewalk, and frowned upon in others. I always make way for cars when I'm riding though.
In my town, where I ride, there is a car sticking out and blocking the sidewalk in every 3rd driveway. It's not possible to use the sidewalk. But more importantly, my town has a population of 7,500. It was Sunday at 11pm. There were literally (and I know it for a fact because the town is so quiet I could have heard them) no other moving vehicles in a 1/2 mile radius, and no parked cars on the road I was using. I could have driven 3 18-wheelers side by side on the road, and this idiot yells at me. It took no effort for him to pass me.
Legally you may have the same right to the road as cars, but anyone with common sense can tell otherwise. Pedaling down a road meant for vehicles that can travel up to 100 miles and hour is just silly and stupid. It'd be like flying a hang glider in front of an airplane and demanding the pilot to slow down. You know why cyclists are kicked off sidewalks? Because people are walking about as fast to cyclists as cyclists are to cars. It just so happens we have to let the cyclists pedal along somewhere. Cyclists shouldn't be allowed to pedal their bikes anywhere but lanes designated for cyclists, to say you have as much right to the road as cars is like saying a hang glider has as much right to a "sky" road as an airplane.
You were probably yelled at because it was dark (11pm by your description) the road was empty (meaning ok to speed a little) and a bicycle was plodding along at 15mph when the car was likely aiming for over twice that. Not only was it dangerous (because it was dark--im not sure if you were wearing proper reflective gear) but it was bothersome.
All that said, your description of the driver does sound like an unintelligent, quick to anger, just-got-back-from-a-barbecue-with-lots-of-drinks kind of guy, so I'm sure this isn't entirely your fault. I just take issue with cyclists always getting so incensed when they almost get hit or they get yelled at by drivers. It seems pretty clear to me that they have it coming to them.
Hope this wasn't offensive to any cyclists, I'm all for the sport if it's done in the right place, safe and out of the way of motor traffic.