Originally Posted by
cyclokitty
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.
Excellent post. When my family/friends/co-workers try to back me off from commuting by bicycle, the two major things I think are: 1.) It's not nearly as dangerous as they believe; and 2.) The danger of a sedentary lifestyle (living on a couch and in a "cage") is much more acute. I've discovered that the longer I do it and the more they get used to it, the less they tend to comment.
Oh, and btw, I don't speak to my wife in the morning before that precious first cup of coffee either . . .
