I've spent the last 4 years commuting by bike full time and have lost count of the number of people who tell me bike commuting is deadly and I need to stop. My mom, strangers, grocery store cashiers, a couple of librarians, walk in clinic nurse, several people I've shared an elevator in my building have all asked me to give up bike commuting because I could get killed. Talk about dreary. I'm a careful, defensive cyclist and I take very few chances on the road. I'm also a cautious pedestrian and like to think I haven't been run over by a car for similar habits. The thing is everybody can do something risky at some point of the day whether it's step into a shower, eat iffy looking seafood, get in the elevator with the absolute wrong person, jay walk, push the speed limit or talk to me before I drink a cup of coffee in the morning. I have stuff to do and would rather not live with someone else's perception of bike commuting risk when that person has never done any. Be safe. Have fun.