> Legally, a bicycle has the same legal right to the road and lane as you and your car does.

Legally, in California, a bicycle that isn't maintaining the "normal speed of traffic" for the road it is on is required to be operated as close as practical to the right-hand curb except in specifically enumerated circumstances. It does not have the same legal right to the road and lane as a car does. (California Vehicle Code Sec. 21202)

Where I live, the minimum speed is half the top speed, so if a bike is doing less than 20 mph in a 40 mph street it is theoretically violating traffic rules - not that it justifies anyone risking running over the cyclist.