Wow-- I really hope that you are okay. I've seen your posts in another forum: I'm sorry that your bike was smashed before you could sell it. I never like to hear of a cyclist (or any other person) being hurt. I totally agree that motorists should be responsible for their actions, and should be more careful of cyclists [and other motorists, and pedestrians].

That said, I've seen literally hundreds of cyclists break traffic laws whenever they feel like. If we want to be taken seriously as vehicles, we need to act like serious vehicles. Every time a biker blows through a red light, or scares a ped, or skitches off a car, whatever-- it drains the legitimacy from the argument that cyclists are responsible operators who deserve to share the road with cars. Folks can flame me for this, but it's true.

I think it sucks that you got hit, but I also think you shouldn't have tried to rush a light. I wouldn't do that in my car, so I wouldn't do it on a bike. Maybe my tune will change if I'm ever hit unexpectedly by a driver, but [so far] every cycling accident I've ever been in has been due to my own stupidity (or drunkenness, which is much the same, isn't it?). I've been in two severe automobile accidents-- one of them fatal for another driver; cars are dangerous to everyone, not just cyclists. The imbalance of deadliness between cars and bikes is unfortunate, but it's life, and doesn't give us license to act like *******.

However, I totally disagree that most cyclists who act stupidly are doing it to escape dangerous situations. Acting stupid is acting stupid-- period. As much as it is a driver's responsibility to watch for vulnerable traffic, it is a cyclist's responsibility to ride carefully and always in control. No one will ever be able to convince me that riding without brakes is as safe as with, and anyone who genuinely believes such a thing is an idiot, however skillful a rider they may be. Physics and logic back me up on this. It's unfortunate that such stupidity has become fashionable...not only for the people hurt, but for the collateral effect it has on the cycling community.

EDIT-- I was just re-reading your post...if that guy ran off without stopping to see if you were okay, then he deserves no mercy. Hit-and-run is one of the most vile crimes I can think of. What a chickentsh*t.