I disagree with Forester's characterization of cyclists' worry about operating in the same space as motor vehicles as "phobia" or "superstition". These terms assign ignorance to the people who share this worry without providing acknowledgement to the social factors affecting them.

I prefer to call this worry a "taboo." Taboos are fearful beliefs for self-preservation based on some reality-based experience but are oversimplified and do not fully recognize the real cause and effect relationships. Most importantly, taboos are actively promoted by society. Even if one desires to reject the taboo, one must deal with the social stigma associated with doing so, in some cases, even retribution for upsetting the normal social order. I believe society actively teaches the taboo about cycling on ordinary roadways in the vehicular manner in order to protect young children who are too young to understand the rules of the road, and in order to promote motorists' convenience. To some extent people who truly believe the taboo may promote it in an effort to protect others, and some people who don't believe the taboo themselves may attempt to accommodate people who believe it by not challenging it, even when not challenging it ends up needlessly reinforcing it.

In summary, a smart person can be affected by a taboo, and should not be ashamed of (or insulted for) this unfortunate situation. Meanwhile, dispelling the taboo creates a tricky social situation, because there are many who believe that the taboo, while oversimplified, provides some desirable end, be it protection of the ignorant, or preservation of a desired social order.

Forester insults those who worry about traffic. This is not an effective way to address a taboo, in my opinion.

-Steve Goodridge