Originally Posted by
AlmostTrick
It's apparent to me that most peoples fear of "cars" is greatly out of proportion to the actual risks. Out of millions of riders, only 700 or so are killed in the USA each year. And frankly, many of them F'd up. (RUI or riding without lights at night, etc.) Do everything right and your risk is even lower.
I agree. Act like a vehicle and you're predictable to drivers. Then ride super defensibly (i.e. as if you were invisible to traffic).
I'm constantly amazed at the stupidity of cyclists, almost all of whom have motor vehicle driver's licenses, at how they get stupid about being on the road as a vehicle when you put them on a bike. Just last night, I wound up with two knuckleheads riding the wrong way on the shoulder against traffic coming at me. Then, when they see me, they want to go deeper to their left which would have been my right where I should be able to go to get further away from traffic which almost set up a head on with another cyclist (i.e. me)!
J.