Simba
Specialized Allez 24 Rider
Ok, I'm a motorist who is looking to start cycling. To be honest, until recently I barely even noticed a cyclist, other then as an annoyance slowing down my commute to work.
I was never nasty, or rude, but possibly guilty of not giving them quite as much room as I should have when overtaking.
I never 'hated' cyclist, but in truth our roads are poorly designed and are way too narrow, making overtaking difficult so instead you get stuck behind someone going about 10 miles an hour - which is no fun at all.
I'm sure it's this frustration that eventually boils over and leads to close overtaking - rather then any actual malice towards the rider ( the driver in GrasB's post not included obviously)
10 miles an hour? I travel faster than that as an average speed. 15-16mph averages, on flats I can do 25mph without much effort, descents up to 41mph so far and can go faster. Do you cut up a slower moving car or close overtake? No didn't think so.