Originally Posted by
Vital_Signs
True, the driver may be in the wrong, however, his mistake will dent his car but you will be injured and possibly killed. It's defensive driving 101, expect the unexpected. It has to constantly be on your mind that there are people out their who either don't know the laws or just don't care and since they just got a very important text message with a picture of their friend making a funny face, watching where they are going isn't on their list of priorities and they run you over. Is it their fault? Entirely and without question it is the drivers fault, however, you face the consequences of his mistake.
Take a similar scenario involving just cars, say a drunk driver is swerving down the road in his giant pickup and t-bones another driver killing him. Who's fault is it? Obviously the drunk, the other driver couldn't possibly have expected it, however, the guy is still dead.
I think it's foolish for people to assume that just because there is a stop sign that the drunk is going to stop at it or to ride your bike as if the law is going to protect you from the 2 tons of metal driven by a ******.
That is why I think those bikers are morons, because they put their lives in the hands of the irresponsible ******* in control of these vehicles. When I mount a bike I don't trust any motorist, and if I have to give up the right-of-way so those morons can go barreling down the road that is something I have to live with so I can make it home safely. When I get on a bike I accept that I may be stuck at the crossing for a few more minutes to wait for the drivers who feel the rules don't apply to them because they have a TV program that they simply can't miss or if I have to take the long way to avoid roads that don't give me the safety buffer I need I do that, if the driver wants to kill himself that is his prerogative, however he isn't taking me down with him. In the end, it doesn't matter what the law states, it doesn't matter who's fault it is, you are still dead because you put too much trust in your fellow man.
And I think the opinions that make people not like cyclists is because of their flippant attitude about the pecking order of reality.
I'll be honest. Ever since I started cycling two months ago, your comment is the reason why I still haven't rode on streets / roads. I've been riding on MUPs. It's not I don't trust my handling skills. It's just I don't trust the ONE moron driver who can't pay attention to the road due to the distractions you mentioned. It takes that one moron to sideswipe and critically injure you or worst, kill you. As a cyclist without medical insurance I'm not willing to take that risk. I have too much at stake, at the moment, to not able to walk or suffer through the healing process of scraps, bruises, and / or broken bones. I live in Florida and look up "states with the worst drivers" and you'll find the Sunshine State in top 10.