In a message to Anthony about pdrecipe.*, Alan said:

AM> I think you over rate most peoples tolerance of cyclists.  Frankly,
AM> every time I see one up ahead and I'm in the left lane I curse them...
AM> Luckily I drive a narrow car...

AW> Or what?...

Thought that might worry you... 

Honestly Alan, I'm harmless.  Well, mostly harmless... ;)

AW> It's an interesting phenomena that reasonable people
AW> turn into buggers that think they own the road as soon as they throw a
AW> leg over a bike. Just as interesting is the phenomena of the meekest
AW> mildest person in the world turning into Mad Max when they have a ton
AW> of motor car underneath them. The funniest thing I've ever heard was a
AW> motorist claiming that I was intimidating him during an animated
AW> conversation. Me on an 8Kg bike, him in a fully enclosed 1 ton plus
AW> car.

Yeah, I think it's quite a common phenomenon - the Dr. Jekyl/Mr Hyde
syndrome.  One way or the other, some people seem to change character
in or out of a car.  And likewise, some people on bikes seem to think
they're invincible, teenagers especially.

'tnt, Anthony.