[tly]

I was just wondering where you feel safest when riding. Open road or in town. I haven't done much town riding therefore my comfort level is at its highest on the open road. Does anyone know the statistics as far as accidents.

Also, what are your habits as far as riding on the open road? I usually ride solo and try to ride in the middle of the lane. When I see a vehicle approaching in my rear view mirror I hold my position until he moves over (so far they always have) :o at which time I also move over to the right.

I have recently moved from northwest Missouri to central Missouri and have noticed a lot more traffic which got me to thinking about this.

Tom

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[maddyfish]

I like riding in town, it seems to me people are looking for bikes, kids, walkers,stroller, runners, and such. Plus the speed limits in my town are primarily 15, and 25, so I don't get passed all the time.

In the country, people aren't looking out for me, and they are going faster.

[SonataInFSharp]

I strongly prefer to ride in town--downtown, in fact. People there expect and look for bikes, etc.

In open road areas, people may see a bike so sledom that they don't even notice the bike when they do see one. I can't stand riding in the suburbs, and that isn't even that "open" compared to a rural area.

Give me downtown rush hour any day!

[xerocoma]

I prefer the open road.. fewer cars & trucks... fewer roadside distractions for drivers... fewer opportunities for drivers to be having a road rage fit due to other stupid drivers.. fewer bars for drivers to be leaving from.... fewer stop lights and stop signs for me...

[WriteABike]

Open road, all the way. I can take the lane and the few drivers that pass me can move into the other lane. I figure the fewer the cars that pass me, the less likely I am to get hit. It's less stressful, too. I try to avoid high-speed roads, though. Even without much traffic, there's just something unsettling about having a semi pass at 65. ;)

[ralph12]

I like the open country roads. Hardly anyone's there, the speed limits are usually not too high, and it's relaxing being away from the crowd of the city.

[Niles H.]

...Open road or in town....
Low-traffic open road, by far.

Fewer cars, fewer opportunities for accidents with them, less noise, less pollution, fewer intersections and driveways (which are danger zones, statistically), less stress, more pleasant, fewer drunks, fewer inattentive drivers...........

One should still remain vigilant, though, even on country roads. A mirror, watchfulness, readiness to get off the road if necessary, etc. -- and minimal night riding (esp. Fri. and Sat. nights) -- are all good.

I haven't done much town riding therefore my comfort level is at its highest on the open road. Does anyone know the statistics as far as accidents.
Yes, I have seen a variety of statistics, but do not remember the exact details. (Many are available online.)

It is good to look at statistics from several different reliable sources, preferably unbiased ones; if you go to just one source, it may not give an accurate view. There are people who have a vested interest in one side of an argument or another, and they can (and often do) cherry pick their statistics.

***
Most bicycle 'casualties' do not involve motor vehicles. What people sometimes omit here is the fact that most bicycle fatalities do involve motor vehicles.

[chephy]

It all depends on the town and on the open road. I've had very pleasant and very scary experiences with both.

[caloso]

What chephy said.

[wheel]

depneds on the drivers and the road.


Case in point
I 17 I have a rumble strip and nice wide shoulder which is graded. Drivers are going 65-80 mph have more focus I feel.

Downtown Tempe
I have bike lanes, slow traffic, and lots of people who are not using a car to get around. Drivers watch out for all those people not driving.

[nick burns]

Open road. Don't have to worry so much about clueless pedestrians, people backing out of driveways or turning off of sidestreets without stopping and barely looking, road pavement is often better, and the scenery usually is better. Generally a much calmer experience.