I've been a "fair weather cyclist" for many years. That means that almost all of my riding has been on sunny days when lots of other people are riding their bicycles. Drivers around here are usually very courteous to cyclists.

So... today was the first time I've ridden in conditions that are keeping most cyclists off the roads. There is still lots of snow on the ground, but the roads are generally clear.

I encountered more rude drivers today than I've experienced in the last couple of years. I was honked at twice, rudely saluted once, & buzzed three times. All of that on a 45 minute ride!

I wore a high vis jacket & rode on a lightly traveled, neighborhood thoroughfare, with two lanes in each direction. I had to take up more of the right lane than usual due to occasional ice & lots of gravel on the side of the road. Still, there was ample opportunity to safely pass me in the left lane without even having to slow a car down.

I wonder if so many drivers were rude because they didn't expect to see a cyclist on the road today.

What is your experience? Are drivers less courteous to cyclists in the winter when the drivers may not expect to encounter people riding? And, are they more courteous during nice weather when drivers pretty much expect to deal with lots of people on bicycles?