Originally Posted by VTBike

I have driven on this section of road hundreds of times. The road is a rural road, but it is a state highway and is one of very few major links from east to west. Speed varies, but I would say that 95% of motorists go between 45 mph and 65 mph. There are many curves that limit visibility. The state has removed some of those curves over the years, but they still exist. Lighting is minimal. Vast sections have no lighting at all.

Whether it is right or wrong, 99.99% of motorists would have absolutely no expectation that a bicyclist would be occupying the center of the lane - especially at that hour of the night. Based on actual use, that expectation is extremely reasonable. (Again, this is not intended to open up a debate about how the expectation needs to change. It is only offered to illustrate what reality is - not what reality should be.)

There is absolutely no doubt that this cyclist put his life at extreme risk. Even if you agree that drivers need to be educated, this "lesson" came at extreme risk to this bicyclist's life. No rational person who is familiar with this road and how motor vehicles operate upon it could conclude otherwise. Frankly, if he were seriously injured, he would have set back the state of bicycle advocacy. If you know this road, you cannot deny that the general public would conclude that he was extremely reckless. If the public perceives bicyclists as being reckless, they will feel justified in wanting to contain bicyclists. People need to stop thinking myopically about these issues from the perspective of a bicyclist. They need to get inside the mind of the non-bicyclists they wish to educate. Inasmuch as this person tried to educate, his lesson plan was deeply flawed. A good teacher is keenly aware of the need to know their students and to adapt their teaching methods to be the most effective in light of those characteristics.

Advocacy needs to be smart. We, as bicyclists, need to assess whether or not our strategies are effective. For whatever reason, too many people believe that it is taboo to engage in this sort of critical thought. That's a real shame to our cause.