2 years ago when I started cycling again as an adult, I was riding the Spur Line Trail and stopped just South of UpTown Waterloo, near that big church. Anyway, a car stopped, and waved me through. Oncoming traffic did not stop. Cars lined up behind her. Someone honked. I waved her through, and she kept shaking her head and waving ME through. I finally yelled "GO! YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY!" and she threw up her arms, revved the engine and took off all pissy.
Since then, I've thought a lot about this, and like you am trying to figure out what the best way to deal with it is.
If I'm approaching a crossing, and I can see a car coming, I judge its velocity. If I predict that it might see me and attempt to slow down, I slow down first and try to "hide" from the car, so they don't even have a chance to decelerate. Then I can speed up a little again, and have thus continued moving with little to no delay.
If I'm approaching a crossing and I can see a car coming and notice them decelerating, as if they might stop, I know there's no point in me doing the above, so I just come to the stop sign and stop, hoping they'll accelerate again, and only be mildly annoyed that they caused me to stop and delayed me longer than if they'd just continued at speed.
If I get to a crossing and the car stops, I stop too (so they get the idea) and wave them on. Sometimes they wave back, and then go, and we've both wasted a lot of energy.
If I do the above, and they still insist I go... I usually go. I've given up on trying to give "lessons", and I hate doing this (because it re-enforces the dangerous behavior), but I don't really feel like wasting 20 seconds of my life every time this happens (much the same as what you're experiencing as well, I take it).
I will say this: I absolutely cannot stand the drivers who, when seeing someone coming down the trail, will slow down... craaaaaaaaaaawl through the crossing at like 5 km/h, then speed back up (usually quite loudly). As a bonus, they'll typically turn their head and stare straight at me while doing it... while I stand there, and wait for them to continue through. It is absolutely the pinnacle of inefficiency. They've delayed themselves, wasted fuel, brake pads, and my time and energy.
Since then, I've thought a lot about this, and like you am trying to figure out what the best way to deal with it is.
If I'm approaching a crossing, and I can see a car coming, I judge its velocity. If I predict that it might see me and attempt to slow down, I slow down first and try to "hide" from the car, so they don't even have a chance to decelerate. Then I can speed up a little again, and have thus continued moving with little to no delay.
If I'm approaching a crossing and I can see a car coming and notice them decelerating, as if they might stop, I know there's no point in me doing the above, so I just come to the stop sign and stop, hoping they'll accelerate again, and only be mildly annoyed that they caused me to stop and delayed me longer than if they'd just continued at speed.
If I get to a crossing and the car stops, I stop too (so they get the idea) and wave them on. Sometimes they wave back, and then go, and we've both wasted a lot of energy.
If I do the above, and they still insist I go... I usually go. I've given up on trying to give "lessons", and I hate doing this (because it re-enforces the dangerous behavior), but I don't really feel like wasting 20 seconds of my life every time this happens (much the same as what you're experiencing as well, I take it).
I will say this: I absolutely cannot stand the drivers who, when seeing someone coming down the trail, will slow down... craaaaaaaaaaawl through the crossing at like 5 km/h, then speed back up (usually quite loudly). As a bonus, they'll typically turn their head and stare straight at me while doing it... while I stand there, and wait for them to continue through. It is absolutely the pinnacle of inefficiency. They've delayed themselves, wasted fuel, brake pads, and my time and energy.