Vermont: Peace on the roads?

From the Rutland Herald (Vermont), 07.22.07:

Yankee Notebook: On the road, sharing is the law
Remember the film "Easy Rider"? Any of us who've ridden much know the experience of being hated by people in motor vehicles — especially pickup trucks: a loud horn blast from behind; a shouted epithet; the passenger's hand banging on the outside of the door, the arm rising to flip the traditional salute as the muffler roars and the vehicle speeds away. I also knew every rider's puzzlement: Why?

Nobody knows. There's no logic behind it...I guess there's something about a bicyclist or a group of them that excites a bit of road rage or class warfare in some folks--particularly if they're on their way to work while the bikers are having fun. That's too bad, because with green becoming our favorite color, more people will be commuting by bicycle as much as possible or practical, and more towns and cities will be setting aside bike routes and road lanes. (Read more.)

This is a thoughtful essay, appealing for more respect by motorists. And poses the question I've often pondered myself: Why the hostility from drivers? Does hating bicyclists clear the traffic delaying their commute? Does anger reduce their fuel costs?

Image: Web capture.
Visit: Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips Site