Once recently a cyclist entered a roundabout that I was in without yielding and I had to take evasive action. I honked a warning and got the middle-finger and angry words that I couldn't hear.
I am going to start with the contrary view, and say your evasive action action consisted of tapping the brakes to slow down. You are going around a round about, so your speed would not have been more than about 15 mph or so, so there was no danger of a high speed collision or you having to put yourself into a ditch to avoid killing the cyclist, sound about right?
After we think about that for a second...wasn't that big of a deal in the scheme of things, was it? When cyclists violate automobile operators rights the automobile operators get, what, a scratch on the car; if it's bad enough to cause a fatality, maybe a dent? When automobile drivers violate cyclists rights, more than likely, people die or are gravely injured.
I almost don't want to segue into this, because I don't want to play the 'both sides do it' that is so common to "journalism" these days, but...cyclists are a**holes. Most of us ride as if we are above the law, and really, above common courtesy. I have tried so many times to get people to realize that the rights go to
the person and
NOT the vehicle. Yes, you feel superior because you are riding your bike (and you are!), but the person in the car doesn't deserve any lesser rights or courtesy than you! And I say this as someone that has commuted, ridden and raced bikes for years since I didn't have a car until I was 28.
But the bottom line for those of you still getting annoyed with cyclists on the road is a) it is really not costing you much time, and b) your impatience by passing unsafely or what have you, can cost lives! It may be just some guy slowing you down by 15 seconds getting to the grocery store, but it's also someone's brother, son, husband or father whose life you may be risking.