Originally Posted by FBinNY

The vast majority of cyclists ride for a lifetime without a motor vehicle accident. Even if we reduce the set to only high mileage active road cyclists, it's still if and now when.

Then if we discount minor MVAs, such as hooks with no or minor injuries, the odds for lifetime safe cycling get more favorable yet.

No matter how you measure, bicycling is a safe activity. This is recognized by life insurers who offer their best rates to bicyclists, while denying them to participants in many other sports. There have even been studies showing that not cycling is more dangerous (based on life expectancy) than cycling.

So, yes, it's not if but when you'll die, but odds favor it taking longer if you're an active cyclist.

Originally Posted by GTryder

Drive defensively - ride intensely defensively.

Originally Posted by joeyduck

I like this, permission to use?

Originally Posted by Drew Eckhardt

If you don't ride there's a very good possibility you'll be obese, have high cholesterol leading to atherosclerosis and a heart attack, develop type 2 diabetes which leads to amputation, and otherwise suffer before dying young.

Originally Posted by tarwheel

I think it's a rather stupid attitude to assume that you'll inevitably be hit by a car while cycling. I've been cycling more than 40 years and I've never been hit. Since the year 2000, I've cycling 97,000+ plus miles -- mostly on the road -- without getting hit.

That said, I am not surprised that some cyclists do get hit by cars. Many cyclists use no common sense and flaunt traffic laws. I see cyclists very often riding in the dark or low-light conditions wearing dark clothing and no lights (or just a dim blinkie). Many cyclists wear jerseys/jackets that blend right into the road, apparently thinking it nerdy to wear bright clothes. Many cyclists run red lights, go the wrong way on one-way streets, and ride as if they think they have a protective shield around them.

While commuting, I usually wear jerseys/jackets/vests that are high-viz yellow. I always ride with my headlights and taillights on in traffic. For recreational rides, I have a collection of brightly colored jerseys. Given my track record, I am inclined to believe that my visibility has made a difference. I also ride very defensively, always assuming that drivers don't see me, which has prevented accidents on a number of occasions.

Originally Posted by noglider

@jrickards, I now do the "Danish thing" and lead the cars into the intersection. Of course, I look first.

Originally Posted by furiousferret

The worst thing about this forum is the incessant fear mongering. I know cars are dangerous, and people die on bikes daily. Reminding people on the forums constantly and having a mantra 'Its not if you get hit....' doesn't really send the right message to people considering commuting or purchasing a bike for exercise, etc.

As for me, I've been mirrored once and had my front wheel clipped. No major injuries, but both drivers took off. Other than that I've been pretty safe; my two rules are 1) Assume the driver is going to make the worst possible decision and 2) avoid dangerous roads, even if it means a longer ride.

Originally Posted by noglider

So if I don't ride, there's a very good possibility of not taking up racketball or gardening or bird watching?

Originally Posted by jrickards

By "Danish thing", do you mean that you're taking the lane at the front? If so, that seems like a sound strategy.

Originally Posted by Reynolds

So although I've been hit, I don't think cycling is as dangerous as some believe. In fact, most (nearly all) of my many cycling friends were never hit, and none of them died while cycling (knock on wood...)

Originally Posted by mgw4jc

I would definitely call that a sidewalk and avoid it as a cyclist. That looks more dangerous for you hitting a pedestrian than for a car hitting you. Passing pedestrians that don't know I'm coming scares me more than a car behind me. Having to slow down and alert each person would be annoying enough in itself that I'd just jump onto the street. That path may be okay for a 10 year old barely moving, but not someone going 10+ miles per hour.

Originally Posted by Slaninar

So I sometimes use the road, sometimes the bike lane - depends.

Originally Posted by wapiti

I know Vancouver is not as bad as some cities but honestly, every time I go there now, I just cringe. I left Vancouver 18 years ago and I thought the traffic was horrendous then, it was part of what drove me out of the city.

I go there now; population has doubled, number of cars has tripled and amount of available traffic lanes has reduced. more drivers; more frustration, more aggression and a very large number of people who are new drivers/immigrants with questionable skills.

Just awful. I think if I ever found myself back there i would sell the cars and just ridfe the skytrain.

Originally Posted by joeyduck

Amen! I love driving everywhere, grew up in a garage working on cars. Put on hundreds of thousands of miles by the time I was 25 in the car and on the motorcycle. Went to SFU for my M.Sc. Live one bus stop away. Started work in Richmond, two moths later started cycling. I have not looked back. I now live closer to work and I have not driven (to work) since April, only to Costco or the big weekly shop at Superstore. My wife does much more driving (to the aquarium with our son) and she now understands the frustration I felt and vented for years here. Bad light timing, bad drivers, bad parkers, bad design, poor construction planning.

I remember my first time riding my motorcycle through Vancouver, the closest I ever came to being t-boned. Turning left, at a stop light. Light goes green and starts flashing. I think, yeah I can turn left, like Montreal. Ohh how wrong I was as three oncoming lanes start gunning for position like an F1 start as I start turning across them. I learned all about cleaning my skivvies and pedestrian controlled lights that day.

But now we rarely drive during the week and we are much happier.

Originally Posted by wapiti

When I first went to Vancouver I could drive from UBC to the foot of Cypress in about 12 minutes.

Richmond to the North Shore was maybe 20 minutes if you hit some red lights.

It was heaven. The riding was great. now ........................

Originally Posted by joeyduck

We live near VGH now and if we try to go to the ferry it is at least 45 minutes to Horseshoe Bay. When I lived near SFU the drive to Richmond was about an hour, the ride about an hour. Easy choice to ride. Drive with no traffic 32 minutes, regular traffic 60 minutes. Bike 55 minutes.