A Polite Altercation I've just had the most polite altercation with a stranger that I've yet had. I was riding my bike back from the post office, half a mile from my house. I'd just checked for traffic, and pulled out into the right lane. Frantic honking from a car a half-mile back and in another lane got my attention. When the car passed me, I pulled up next to it, because we were both going to turn left. The driver, a guy in his early twenties, judging from his face and his hideous MMA tshirt, rolled down the front passenger-side window of his seven-series BMW. Here is an approximation of the ensuing exchange:

Me: Why did you honk at me? I didn't pull out in front of you.

Him: Where's your helmet, dude!? You're not supposed to be out here, you gotta walk your bike across the crosswalk!

Me: What? I don't have to do that.

Him: Dude, you're riding without a helmet, and you can't be out in the street like this, you're going to get killed!

Me: Well, I'm over 21, so I don't have to wear a helmet, and I don't have to cross my bike at a crosswalk, because I'm going to turn left, so I can be in the same lane as you. I'm not sure you're aware of the rules regarding bikes-

Him: Don't talk to me about rules! You gotta wear a helmet, dude-you'll get killed.

At this point the light turned green and he raced off-and I do mean raced. It was a frustrating exchange both because he was so clearly wrong on the law, and because he left me wondering why he would show such excessive sensitivity to a middle-aged bike rider without a helmet. I almost asked him to stop and discuss things, but decided not to because of the overwhelming likelihood that he would have interpreted it as a threat and challenge to a fight. A fight which would likely have been two-on-one as his buddy was in the passenger seat. (It's also notable that his friend said nothing during this brief argument.) It would've been great to have had a chance to ask him some questions, and to separate the issue of the law from the issue of whether my behavior was prudent.

But it was rare in that, as far as I can remember, neither of us used profanity (I know I didn't), and neither one of us insulted the other, even though he was shouting, and I'm sure my voice was also increasing in volume. It was also interesting and refreshing that he seemed so concerned with a stranger's well-being. But that made me wonder whether he had had a loved one or friend killed or maimed in a bicycle accident, or if he himself had hit a cyclist. Still, whatever his motive, it was refreshing to know that perhaps not every instance of words with a 22-year-old will result in cussin' and fightin'. But I'm not going to press my luck.  ¶ 21:01