People unclear on a concept

For some reason, the harrassment of bikers around here seems to go in cycles, at least in my experience. On several of the rides I have done since the new year, drivers in cars have made a point of scolding or yelling at me for riding in the street, not on the sidewalk.

Texas law is clear that bicycles should not be ridden on the sidewalk but rather on the roadway where they are obliged to follow the same traffic rules as motorized vehicles. There is still an obligation to stay to the right of the roadway , as you are considered slow traffic, but basically the rule is "share the road."

I guess this is not an issue that is addressed in the rules of the road test that they give prospective drivers in order to get a driver license. Be that as it may, I am getting corrected for daring to actually ride on the road and not riding on the sidewalk.

The one driver who really irked me on my most recent ride with the "sidewalk" comment was the guy who made a point of slowing down, pulling across the white line marking the road edge, towards me as I rode down the 6 foot shoulder of a 4 lane country highway and telling me to "ride on the sidewalk" .

Not only was there not a sidewalk to be seen in any of the farm fields and ditches alongside both sides of the highway, but there was absolutely no oncoming traffic or traffic on my side of the road that would have kept him from continuing his journey without the need to harrass the bike rider.

When I laughed at him and shook my head at amazement at his comment, he gunned his engine and roared off with a squeal of tires.

Some people have no sense of humor, but I guess he told me.