I guess the image of Pete the Leapfrog is indelibly imprinted in the minds of readers.

Let me attempt to steer this thread in the direction I intended it:

The ex-bicycle commuter I mentioned is a dear friend, yet she says she "quit bicycle commuting 20 years ago because it's too dangerous."

I thought by showing up safely everyday, I had changed some of the thinking of people who say bicycle commuting is "too dangerous."

It's really funny, because these same folks will fly along the freeway at breakneck speeds everyday.