Originally Posted by
Leebo
My mindset? Use the mirror, expect the unexpected, and pedal defensively. And take the lane when needed. I
bike what is safest for me, not necessarily what are the rules made for cars and not bikes...
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
...I would describe my riding style as
utilitarian, but always attuned to safety and courtesy, and even deference to cars and pedestrians.
I use the analogy that as an amphibian has properties between fish and reptiles, a cyclist has rights, responsibilities, and privileges between pedestrians and "dinosaurian" vehicles, and I exercise mine responsibly (IMO).
For example, I will ride on an unused sidewalk to get around a line of cars, or not entirely stop at an empty intersection
Originally Posted by
baron von trail
My mindset is rather simple--avoid traffic whenever possible....
I resort to my
“amphibian” (scofflaw) tendencies for that very reason,
to avoid traffic. Further applying my zoologic analogy, the vulnerable amphibians (cyclists) survived to evolve to the higher mammals by avoiding being trampled by the dinosaurs (autos) who eventually died out.
