Last March 29th I broke four ribs and punctured my lung in a fall on my bike.
It cost me a month of work and almost my job.
Since then, I have had people reach out of their car and hit me on the back of my head, spit on me, and otherwise make life interesting.
By choosing to ride a bike in traffic, we have made ourselves more vulnerable to accident and injury than the average motorist.
That said, I have every expectation I will live longer because I ride, and that I will enjoy life more than any motorist trapped in his or her trophy cage.
Furthermore, by riding in traffic, I have learned more about violence and non-violence, and the martial arts in general, than I have in the past thirty years in the dojo.
I make one of those jokes that reflects truth more than humor by referring to my bicycle riding as Bikido.
My health, my relationships, and my sanity have all improved, and continue to improve, because I ride thirty miles a day in traffic.
I love it.
My ride to work and back, on my fixed gear bike (as opposed to my geared, severe-weather Ice Bike) constitutes the best part of my day.