Originally Posted by
noglider
The weird thing is that traffic in NYC is aggressive, but I find it easier to survive than other places. I'm not sure I'm ready to say NYC drivers are better than in other places, because it may simply be that I understand the dance and know how to do it.
As a social ballroom dancer, as well as urban commuter with years of lessons, may I say, "Well said."
There was thread once about rural vs urban cycling, and a concensus was that urban cycling was safer, because of the congestion and slower speeds. Even with heavy traffic, I know the patterns of traffic, the "dance steps," and can anticipate the car's movements.
Earlier on this thread, I wrote:
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
…One soft argument I read on Bikeforums is that cycling in traffic really
does look dangerous to car drivers ensconced in their vehicles. Personally I feel pretty safe, well-lit, with unlimited vision with mirrors, and
pretty nimble on my bike. Nonetheless, I’m totally attentive to the cars around me, and I have a number of safety aphorisms in my mind to keep me alert…
Once though, I was
standing on a busy intersection (Massachusetts andCommonwealth Aves) one Saturday night watching somehappy-go-lucky student-typecyclists on Hubway Bike Share bikes, no helmets, riding along and laughing intraffic, and I thought to myself that really
does look dangerous.
An important aphorism I learned on BF is, "To know where a car is going, watch the front wheels, not the body or hood." though we don't watch our feet when we dance. 
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 02-02-18 at 12:26 PM.