DoItByCycle - Do It By Cycle

Stockton's Bicycle-phobia

Why do the drivers of Stockton find it necessary to shout insults at cyclists or throw rubbish at them?
I regularly commute 3 miles to work by bicycle and it is rare for me to not have some driver slow down to shout insults at me even when I am not on the same road but on a parallel cycle path.
There are also the insults from the smokers loitering outside the pub, but the main problem is the young drivers in Stockton (or their passengers). Sadly, they are not content with verbal abuse and are now throwing things at cyclists as they drive past, McDonalds milkshakes, cola drinks or any litter they have to hand. I have also been hit squarely between the eyes by an apple thrown with some force which almost caused me to crash as I struggled to regain vision.
I have also had someone try to run me off the road whilst his passenger filmed it on his phone.
Is there any reason why these people in Stockton hate cyclists and feel they have to intimidate them?
I have cycled all over Europe and have not met this problem before.
Should we put warnings on the cycle routes coming into Stockton so tourists are prepared for the potential abuse they might encounter?
Mike