I had my closest encounter ever with the wrong side of a pick-up truck today!
I had to go to the LBS after work. There is a main drag that runs east/west right in front of my office. I needed to go west on that for a bit, then hop down into the park and circle over to the shop. But, as usual for this time of day, the west-bound side of the road was packed with cars....a total parking lot. So, I crossed over and headed east for a block. I can take the next right, cut behind a shopping plaza and drop into said park a bit lower and still get to the shop easily. I took that right...the road was pot-holed and torn up with construction, so I'm basically riding slowly, picking my way through the junk, and in the middle of the lane. Head down to find my line. A pickup comes up behind me, passes me, and starts turning right in front of me, into the shopping plaza's parking lot.
I start yelling. The guy continues. I'm more or less held up by the side of his truck and turning with him into the lot. There was no way or time to stop and avoid him. Thankfully, it all happened very slowly and he didn't cut the corner TOO much, as I had a good inch and a half of ramp to go up - rather than hitting the curb. I'm screaming bloody murder at the guy...cursing a blue streak. The jerk had a passenger in the seat not 2 feet from my cursing mouth! The window was open and he had an arm out the window, enjoying the afternoon sun. He's ignoring me. Un. Be. Leivable!
The truck drives away. I ponder giving chase and giving the jerk a piece of my mind, but honestly, I didn't want to tangle with two guys in a truck. I pull a U-y out of the lot and continue on my way, knees shaking from adrenaline, head shaking in disgust.
And the kicker of it is...I had an office laptop computer in my Arkel commuter bag to bring home so I could take it on my trip on Sunday. My co-worker said before I left, "You're on your bike today? You're bringing the computer home on your bike? Don't crash!"