Originally Posted by JW Fas

That was neither expressed nor implied. However, this incident is yet another to stack on top of the pile that have already happened, which have been written about in news articles and/or been published in online videos. The theme among them is clear: If the cyclists involved had implements to protect themselves, the outcomes likely would have been different.



And they have their own dedicated forums for discussing their plight.



I hope I didn't convey the sentiment that attacks against cyclists are frequent, because that wasn't my intent. However, there is something to be said about the probability of an event versus its cost to the person/people involved. I'm sure you carry homeowners insurance on your house. What is the probability that your house will be leveled by some rare natural disaster? Pretty low. However, what is the cost to you for not having said insurance if/when it's needed? Astronomical. I'm also willing to bet you wear a seat belt every time you drive your car, but the probability of getting into a crash where you'd need the seat belt to save your life is also very low. And yet, the personal cost for not wearing it when it's needed is incredibly high (life-altering injury or death). I don't think it's unreasonable to recommend that cyclists carry a 1.5-ounce can of pepper gel in the unlikely event they need it, because the cost of not having it when needed is rather high. It's also the best bang for the buck not just in terms of money spent but also in terms of legal hassle.