I've always thought that driving in the middle of a lane IS the proper way to drive. Why would I want to get even closer to some asshat that isn't paying attention, probably more worried about his phone than driving?
It is. The issue isn’t that he was driving illegally. It was his attitude, illogical justification, misinterpretation of the rider, and self-righteous perpetuation of that mindset. You definitely aren’t obligated to move over, especially if you don’t feel it’s safe given the specific situation.
Also, they typically lane split just fine when all cars stick to the middle of their lanes, though some bigger vehicles do make way for them by moving closer to the opposite edge of their lane. There isn’t always some inattentive phone user there... especially since there isn’t always a lane there. At least you know that a lane splitting motorcycle rider is giving his FULL attention to what the cars on either side are doing. They scan for openings that might trigger a car to change lanes, dodge mirrors and look intently for opening doors... it’s nerve-racking even at a relative 10MPH (CHP recommendation).
I'm not anti-motorcycle or anything and if I could lane split in traffic I damn sure would so I don't hold that against them at all. If a motorcycle was behind me in traffic and was revving and honking I honestly wouldn't get that he wanted me to move over a bit, I'd probably assume that he was honking at someone else and revving his engine because that is what some bikers like to do.
It’s not that they are demanding that the car make way, it’s that they are letting the car know they are already between lanes, where you couldn’t possibly misinterpret the rider’s intentions. This is at least as much for safety as it is for the car to notice and make way, but it serves both purposes. Holding that against the rider is petty and wrong. CHP safety advice even encourages the riders to do this. Some riders rev their bike and others use the horn. Sounds like this guy did both, probably in response to his bad attitude.