Originally Posted by
Hippiebrian
If you are still trying to convince your wife about the obvious safety of bicycling, by no means should you let her read any thread in safety and advocacy! To read these threads, you'd think cycling was as dangerous as Russian Roulette! Seriously, keep her ignorant of this place, it'll scare her to death.
That said, whenever someone confronts me with how "dangerous" riding a bicycle is, I ask them if they know anyone personally who's died on a bicycle. The answer is generally (with avery few exceptions) no. Then I ask if they know anyone who died in an auto accident. The answer, again generally, is yes. Then I point out that they then drive their car to the funeral! Case closed.
Brian must be outta pot again...
Yeah, yeah...We've all heard about how risk-free and rosy riding bikes in Long Beach is.
This forum is advocacy and safety.
Really?
What do you equate "advocacy" to? Who makes better SPD sandals? Carbon vs. Ti vs. Steel vs. Aluminum?
What do you limit "safety" to? Proper inflation, good hydration, not taking the reflector thingys off of your spokes?
C'mon dude, you gotta be able to envision that these threads are used just as much to educate the public at large, as well as promoting safer, more aware riding possibilities. Sometimes the threads may wander off topic a bit, or may be a little graphic...but if it makes people who DO ride in more "sporting" traffic scenarios a little more cautious and possibly saving a life. It's worth it.
My answer to you question is yes to both. Unfortunately, I know more people now who have been killed on bikes by cars, than people who have died in them as a result of their own, or someone else.
Your own advice is the best for those who aren't interested in the inherent risks. Those who wish to think that cycling anywhere in the world is just as safe and care-free as it is on a Long Beach MUP.