PW seemed to be under the impression that had the solid white line marked a mandatory cycle lane, he would have needed to ride in it. As you have so helpfully quoted,
thirdcrank wrote:63
Use of cycle lanes is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills
You'll remember, of course, that that clause was hard-fought when the highway code was revised. I wrote at length to my MP, as did you for all I know. It's there now, so let's celebrate it!
As for the idiotic motorists who try to teach us lessons and who are factually wrong as well as generally thick and arrogant, I have far too many good ideas about what to do with the.
1)Overtake them at lights, then start practicing trackstands
2)Remove their licenses
3)Sit them in a very boring lecture about the rights of cyclists, that goes on for hours and hours and hours
4)Forbid them from reproducing
5) Get handy on their wing mirrors
6)Fit machine guns to my handlebars
7)...something even less likely than the rest.