Originally Posted by
wphamilton
Not true. Staying 'out of the way' is often the least safest. I'd rather be alive AND right than either of your choices. That you believe that "to be inconvenienced than dead or injured" are our only options is disturbing.
What you should be saying - or at least accepting - is that the larger and most dangerous vehicles should be doing all they can to stay safely out of the way of all other vehicles. Which especially means yielding to other vehicles, even when you think by right of the superior threat you shouldn't have to.
When you think about it, that attitude about what the 'vulnerable' vehicles should do, instead of what you should do, is exactly why cyclists joke and fantasize about being conspicuously armed. That would make YOU equally vulnerable, and perhaps lead to an attitude adjustment.
My belief is that everyone should follow the traffic laws and be aware of their surroundings, however, that is not reality. Prudence would suggest that the most vulnerable should take the most care to avoid trouble, even if they are in the right, because they are the ones most likely to get hurt in the event of an accident. That's just a fact that cannot change. It doesn't matter who is right, a 30 pound bike will lose every time against a 3000 pound car. I'm not saying to be inconspicuous, just extra vigilant, because we know motorists are not often very alert to their surroundings.
And if you think having a gun with you on your bike makes motorists equally vulnerable, you're wrong. Not only might they be armed also, but they're still in a 3000+ pound car and can squash you. If you want to be armed for self defense against theives, robbers, etc, that's fine with me and I think you should have that right, but to do it in the hopes it'll disuade a motorist from being rude or oblivious is wishful thinking. If they are intentionally being rude, they are obviously beligerent and could escalate matters by trying to run you over or shoot first. If they're oblvious, they'll likely have no idea why you're flashing a gun and try to run you over or shoot first, or they may just call the cops. In either instance, you'll have a hard time proving you had just cause to flash or pull your weapon unless you have witnesses, and even then unless there has been an obvious intentional threat to run you over, you'll have no legal reason to do so.