things i don't understand: part 4

this week's thing i don't understand will be short and sweet. i've been doing a lot of cycling lately, and something that bugs me is when people fly past me at mere inches from me and my bike. i don't understand why people can't slow down at least. sure it could be said that they're just trying to get around me as fast as possible, but anyone who has had a truck whip past them that is going over 65 miles per hour would definitely argue that it's much safer when the truck slows down. i know i'm causing you much consternation by going 1/3 or less of the speed limit, but i have just as much right (in georgia at least) to be on the road as you do. pass me when it's safe to do so (i'm giving you as much room as i safely can. trust me, i don't want to get hit anymore than you want to be behind me). if you're in such a hurry to get somewhere, then why are you on a little ol' country road in the first place? get on the state highway. oh, and when the speed limit is posted as 35 miles per hour, and i'm going 35 miles per hour (thank you garmin gps), it's not cool to blow past me and immediately turn right. i wear a helmet to protect me if i crash, mainly because of some freak of nature, not you being a freak in nature. so please, just be a little more considerate. when i'm riding that's one less car on the road. i'm not competing with you, i merely want to ride my bike. i know i'm going slow and i would go faster if i were stronger and thinner. but, no matter how strong and thin i become, i will still go considerably slower than you. you gave the guy walking (illegally mind you) on the shoulder a 5 foot gap when you passed him. why not extend the same courtesy to me when i ride? it's really simple, i promise.