I have been riding 90-150 miles a week for close to two years now. I have never had a run in with an automobile. I have had a close call or three but the were largely due to me riding a *little* recklessly, which I have a tendency to do from time to time. If I were Mr. Safety, I think all of those close calls could have been avoided entirely. I have never had anything thrown at me, but I once threw my bike at a car.

This is what I tell my wife to make her feel better: There's a slim chance I'll be hurt or killed on my bike but the risk is probably only moderately higher than travel by car. There's a pretty damn good chance I'd die of a heart attack if I drove to work.

Also, if more people rode to work it be less dangerous for cyclists, and health problems due to bad air quality would be greatly reduced. We would see less asthma, cancer, birth defects and other respiratory diseases. I more healthy for my efforts, but I'm also doing something to make the world more healthy.