Originally Posted by
BobbyG
I say "ride defensively" as if they CAN see you and intend to kill you.
Bunch of nonsense fear mongering. The overwhelming majority of motorists are NOT psychopaths. In 3 years of cycling and commuting I have NEVER encountered someone who really WANTED to hit me.
OP ride safely and predictably. Be as visible as possible. In many cases this means controlling the lane directly in the line of sight of motorists is the safest way to go, especially in areas without bike lanes. Don't ride at the road edge or in the gutter. Sidewalk riding is not recommended unless you go super slow and careful because motorists will tend to pull out without watching the sidewalk.
Have fun and be safe!