Introductions - Time to stop lurking

Hi folks,

I just moved back to Florida from Atlanta to be near my Wife's family. Looks like I moved to one of the most unfriendly bike towns I've ever seen. I've been out on a few rides by myself and have had at least one near collision each time. Everyone's in such a hurry that nobody seems to notice cyclists here. There was a fatal accident last week where a woman ran over a cyclist in a bike lane while driving her SUV and putting on makeup.

I'm 35 now with a few kids and have been riding as long as I can remember. I originally grew up in PA racing BMX when I was younger, then freestyle when it was just starting. Now I've got a road and a track bike. Hoping to make it over to Ft. Lauderdale to the velodrome sometime soon.

I'm around the Cape Coral/Ft. Myers area. Anyone else on here from Lee County?

I just moved back to Florida from Atlanta to be near my Wife's family. Looks like I moved to one of the most unfriendly bike towns I've ever seen.
What??? Worse than Atlanta? :o


I've been out on a few rides by myself and have had at least one near collision each time. Everyone's in such a hurry that nobody seems to notice cyclists here.
Is it a problem of being in a hurry or being too old to see what's on the road?

Stay safe.

So, so very much worse than Atlanta. I was actually in Decatur myself and rode to work in Inman Park about 2 - 3 days a week. I almost always saw other riders out there, and while the traffic was a bit insane, I think drivers were used to bikes on the road.

And yes, there have been a few accidents due to people not able to see over their steering wheels, but for the most part there has just been a population explosion here. There are very few bike lanes and not many sidewalks.

Get a glasses mount mirror so you can see if the cars coming from the back are paying attention.