Originally Posted by
jfowler85
So, you have never traveled away and remarked "wow, people really drive differently here"? I see a marked difference between drivers here and drivers in OR, WY, and MO, to name a few examples off the top of my noggin. I would expect several factors could contribute to better safety for the cyclist. Sure a car could potentially maim a cyclist, but by that logic so could many other objects, animate or not, which is not a particularly helpful piece of advice. I'm not so sure about my riding style serving me well everywhere...when I take my defensive driving back out to the midwest, I am no longer defensive but a complete ass.
I have ridden all over the place, and no, cars seem to behave pretty much the same. They are equally dangerous wherever they are found. Maybe your experience has been different. Good luck with your new job and new commute. Be safe out there.