Trapped in a room with bike haters . . .

[ny biker]

My usual reply is, "I resemble that remark". Why not use it as an opportunity for dialog instead of putting up walls?

My experience is that most people don't want to dialog. They just want to complain, or yell at me as a representative of people they hate.

[Tri Girl]

Good for you for standing up to them and speaking your mind, Limewave!!
Sorry you have to be stuck with them (and their closed minds about others who are different- heaven help the defendant).
I served jury duty last year, and even tho most of them were nice, there were some totally obnoxiously opinionated people sitting on that jury. Heaven help me if I ever have to go to trial and have a jury. I get the feeling most people in my community are not my "peers."

Yes, ride your bike, carry your helmet with you and show them that being a cyclist means being one of them, not one of "them" (the unknown person).