Discrimination towards cyclists and runners

Hey guys.

I know I'm posting very quickly, but this topic has been fresh in my mind for the past few days or so. I work at a triathlon store in Cary, NC, and enjoy a very nice 20 mile commute home. I ride my bike, of course, who wouldn't? It's a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the night air as well as get a good workout in. However, for those of you who are reading from close to the Apex/Cary area, most of my route home includes Cary Parkway, Kildaire Farm road, and Ten-Ten road. You all know these names and how infamous they are for being dangerous for cyclists and runners, but I'm forced to do training there. It's how I get places.

Anyway, last Sunday night I was sitting at the light at Ten-Ten and 401, at around 8:55 PM. A large truck was next to me, and I glanced into the window and gave a acknowledging nod. He nodded back, and so I was confident he wouldn't try to run me over through the intersection. He did not, but as we went through the light, he slowed down. I started to wonder if he was turning in front of me, but just as I came to that realization, he hit the gas pedal. Hard. He sped away, and in doing so, the exhaust pipe belched a plume of black smoke directly into me, stinging my eyes, throat, nose, and mouth which left me coughing for a good amount of the rest of the ride home. This kind of makes me angry when things such as this happens. It just doesn't make sense! I can't wrap my head around why people feel the need to do these things, because they're just unnecessary. They're dangerous too!

Earlier today I headed out for a run, and as I ran down Ten-Ten, a truck drifted over the white line. I was on a very straight, flat stretch of the road, and had been looking at the truck for about 10 seconds before he started to drift across the white line, where I was running. I thought he would move, but he did not, and actually forced me to jump off the road and into the ditch! That's honestly just crazy. I don't know what drives people to harass hard working athletes such as ourselves, does anyone here know?

Give me some feedback, why does this happen?