Originally Posted by
mjw16
1) you can never be too careful, 2) always wear your helmet, 3) do not allow yourself to become distracted/complacent, always take city riding seriously, 4) get right back on the horse, 5) continue to improve all aspects of your commute's safety.
Make number 3 on your list number 1 and you’re on to something. Maintaining situational awareness and being prepared for issues is the key to safety.
I take issue with “you can never be too careful”. One can follow this mantra while still not behaving in the safest manner. For example, many riders seem to do everything they can in an effort to “stay out of the way of cars”, yet this often puts them in more danger, not less. Curb huggers and sidewalk riders clearly believe they are being as safe as possible, yet statistics and experience often prove otherwise.
Originally Posted by
gerv
Am I right in thinking that you were at a ped crossing riding you bike? I know quite a few cyclists do ride crosswalks, but --after learning the hard way-- I dismount and walk across. Reason is that at a ped crossing traffic is expecting objects moving at ped speed. My recommendation would be to either ride in the lane or walk through the crosswalk.
I'd say gerv has it right. I almost never ride through crosswalks, yet the only time I was hit by a car that’s exactly what I was doing.