“Share the road” is an unofficial motto of the road-cycling community.But you’d never hear a cyclist saying it out loud, primarily because it has been immortalized on a road sign that, whenever I see one, I can’t help but feel it does more harm than good.Like all the great road signs — and I’m thinking of the classics here, like Stop and Do Not Pass — is a concise command. But unlike the classic red octagon, Share the Road is rife with ambiguity.Unlike a specific speed-limit sign, for instance, Share the Road lends itself to interpretation.If I tell my kids to share the arm rest, or share the last brownie, or share the Wii, I envision a fair division. What I get is something else entirely, of course.And so it is with Share the Road.Of course bikes take up less room than cars, so the lane needn’t be split equally. But does a six-inch strip along the gutter count as sharing the road?Further, I think Share the Road signs could anger motorists because they are, in fact, trying to dictate altruism. Imagine flying down the open road and being told via street sign to Be Nice or Call Your Mother or Mind Your Pleases and Thank Yous.That wouldn’t sit well with too many folks, and so, I figure, it is with Share the Road. Share? Heck, no, it’s mineminemineminemine.Nearly every time I see a Share the Road sign, I think about the two times I’ve had motorists yell those word at me as I was cycling.The first time, I was heading home for dinner on a quiet residential road when I heard a car turn onto the street well behind me.I heard the tires squeal a bit, and the engine revved, and my cycling sixth sense told me the driver was none too thrilled to see a bike up ahead.As I approached a four-way stop where I was going to turn left, the car behind continued to accelerate, and though I figured I’d be well through the interception before it caught up, I signaled my turn and decided to “take the lane” by sliding over into the left tire tread so the car wouldn’t be tempted to try to pass dangerously (to me).I stopped, turned and started to ride off. I was several yards up the road when I heard the car slide to a stop at the intersection, the start to accelerate away.In the middle of the intersection, the driver rolled down her window and bellowed — you guessed it — “SHARE THE ROAD, #$$*&^%!” before flooring it.Then a couple of months ago, I was riding to work and preparing to turn left from a different downtown street when a car came up from behind.I slowed down so the car could pass, but the car slowed, too. I slowed even more, and again the car slowed to a crawl. So I accelerated, signaled, made sure it was safe to move into the left lane, then changed lanes before rolling to a stop at a red light.Again the car window went down, and I heard a bellowing, “SHARE THE ROAD, HUH?”I ignored old yeller.”SHARE THE ROAD, HUH?” he repeated.So I glanced over, bracing to be chewed out for some perceived slight on my part.The older male driver leaned out his window, winked, and repeated, “Share the road, huh? Sure, we can share the road, can’t we, young man?”Wary, I admitted, “Sure, we can share.””Of course we can. You have a wonderful day, and have a nice ride. It sure is beautiful out.”And he drove off, I realized he was right. It was a beautiful out.