I have been cycling for 2 years. In that time I have seen a dramatic change in driver attitude. A small number of drivers seem to have gotten snottier and more belligerent. Does this coincide with the rise in gas prices? Possibly. Yet the supposition "Gas is more expensive, I need to drive faster!" is directly counter to reality. If you drive slower and smoother you will go farther on a tank of gas.
Also I have noticed more people on bikes this year than last. Likely for reasons of gas price. Probably also fouling the mood of the traffic loudmouth.

Today a woman pulled up next to me in a right hand turn lane ( I was in the left). She attempted to lecture me on how bikes do not belong on the road, laden with a stream of profanity.

Cyclists, of course, turn left in the left turn lane, and follow the same rules as motor vehicles in traffic. Shockingly, they ride on the road. Evidently this the best way to go places.

Then again, the majority of drivers already know this.
Those who don't will have a lousy future as gas prices continue to rise and more people take up cycling.

The other comment from the driver, "Drive a car like an adult" is a common refrain of the uneducated. Another form of this is, "Bikes is for kids! [sic]" which I enjoyed with a friend a few months ago.
Yes, more cars on the road; they demand more cars on the road... to ease congestion.

I am not sure what people hope to gain shouting insults at cyclists anyway. A person riding a bike on the road is not properly classed as a timid person. The chance of discouraging them with half-witted scorn is pretty low.

Actually I find it amusing, but I have an oblique sense of humor and a low view of humanity; so I will defer to H.G. Wells who said, "When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race."
Then again he saw the human race evolving into two groups: one stronger, one weaker, the stronger feeding on the weaker; so take that as you will.