I ride in rural areas (99.99% of Wyoming is rural) and have the luxury of wide open roads with very little traffic. I can frequently do a 40 mile weekday ride and see only one or two cars. But even here bad things can happen. Two years ago a local kid got his driver's license under the WY hardship rule at 15. Within a week he had run over a cyclist who lost her leg and nearly her life. The cause was the fact that he was attempting to adjust the radio as he went around a (amazingly large) curve apex (with perfect line of sight), crossed over the center line and hit the cyclist on the OPPOSITE side of the road. I have never had a close call in WY but have some in MD and HI. I think about using a mirror and may do so next outdoor riding season. I wear brightly colored clothing and hope for the best. Truthfully I'd rather die that way than many of the other "available" options.
p.s. amazingly in WY we have a 5 foot minimum rule and WYDOT actively supports cycing events
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