Originally Posted by
genec
Rule Six
RIDE WHERE MOTORISTS ARE NOT.
You want to avoid bad collisions... you are better off riding where there are no or few motorists... on well designed paths away from MV traffic and intersections.
You can do all the stuff that the LAB recommends, but you cannot predict what errant and aggressive motorists will do.
As a commuter with a rural/urban route in an area without bike paths, this is not really practical advice. Maybe for some, especially in more bike-friendly areas.
There is nowhere I can ride with no motorists. Routes with fewer motorists would be impractically long for a commute and there would still be stretches with heavy traffic. Also, what alternates routes I could consider have their own downsides like narrower shoulders, narrower road width, higher-speed traffic, less well maintained roads, etc...