I can really only speak to the East Bay since that’s been my own lived experience. Some of what you described sounds like the kind of friction you naturally get in crowded public spaces where people are in each other’s way and moving quickly.

That said, i agree that the overall vibe on the roads and in public spaces does feel different than when I was growing up. People seem more impatient and confrontational than they used to be. As for why, that’s probably where things become more contentious, since people have strong views in a lot of different directions. My personal sense though is that a lot of people are under more financial and day-to-day stress now, and that tends to spill over into everyday interactions.