Statesiders do have some very strange views on road useage, their cars don't brake or corner but are capable of going very fast in straight lines. Instead of tuning engines to produce power, they just make them big. I could go on and on.
Having spent a fair old time in the US, I know that if I were a resident, I would be very reluctant to cycle outside of large cities.
Based on my experiences, I would say it is highly likely that pick-up brushed the cyclist on purpose. The instances of vehicles brush-passing cyclists is unbelievably high. I think I read somewhere Lance say that he got knocked off his bike by redneck pick-ups more than he crashed racing. Likely to be an exxageration, but none the less frightning.
The minimum I would have between my legs to hit the road in the US would have to be 600cc.
