Later. Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius.

Short term-wise, bike commuting is my only "high risk" activity considering the unpredictable drivers out there. I'd get my will in order if I ever need to get on an unfamiliar and dangerous road, or take a taxi (think John Nash ). But long term, we are likely better off than many. Maybe some day when we are 90 we'll ask: Is today the day when I can't ride bike any more?

p.s. Here in NYC people get pushed to death from subway platforms by strangers.

How about mortality from just sitting on the couch and doing nothing?

Well, yeah, there's that. Bike commuting is probably not a particularly dangerous activity. Arguably, it is safer than car commuting, but that depends on how you measure it.

It's still worth learning how to do it safely, and for me, that means always aiming to improve. Whenever I have a close call, I ask myself if I'm responsible, at least partially, and how I can prevent a recurrence. I do this when I drive a car, too.

Very well. Aurelius's Meditations is good stuff. Many could do well for themselves by studying Apatheia.

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Now that is something truly dangerous.

A friend talks about considering bike-commuting an extreme sport, and I think I am with her.

I think about the possibility of being ran-down or hit every single time I see some poor dead critter in the road. Every. Single. Time.

There were a few occasions when I thought I could lose my life due to some wrong-way salmons

I'm more in fear for my life when I drive my car on the interstate through the downtown area during rush hour.

Before I get my bike on the road, I mitigate risk to a certain extent. Helmet, high visiblity, good route, safer time of day and day of week, plenty of water.

I suppose I would have a few moments of reflection if I was involved in a violent incident before the ambulance arrived.
So far, no worries.

My thoughts exactly! As you ride more you would develope more technics that would help you stay alive and even thrive in traffic. To me South Florida is one of the worst places to ride and I know I'm not invinsable, however, I have develope technics that help me be better in traffic. Stay safe!

I have these negative thoughts too, I think it is just anxieties from being expose to too many negative news, news like when a cyclist get hit on the road, and also the way that cyclist safety advocates are trying to sell the info about bicycles and cars crashing. You know the safety campaign on bicycles can have some damages on the amount of people riding bikes too.
Some people even think that the moment they get to ride a bike on the road they will die and all that is produce of the safety advocacy on bicycles. Just think about it, an accident happens and there is the same chance if you are in your car, or if you go on your bike, or even if you go out walking or jogging. Accidents are accidents.

Time to turn off the news show.

Since I started riding again 7 years ago, I've probably only had 2 or 3 close calls that gave me pause. It didn't bother me after the fact. Maybe it's because my sons are grown and I have life insurance or something. I mean, I don't have a death wish, but if you could pick a way to die, wouldn't you rather do it cycling?

Some times I think about it, especially when riding on a narrow road with cars coming at speed from the front. A distraction/ a sleepy driver/a sudden swerve and that's it.

I ride the sidewalks when I commute in to work. I tried riding on the road a few times, and it's a little scary on the faster streets that I would normally ride (speed limits 40-50 mph). The speed differential between me and the cars is a bit too much for me.

Even when I had a motorcycle, I'd get close calls every once in a while.

I guess I never really picture death, even that one time I was getting my head duct-taped to a backboard to get put into an ambulance. And in fact, the people I know who have had dire injuries (mostly paralysis) have been recreational riders (mtn biking or road biking) (I know racers don't consider it recreational but they weren't getting paid...) not commuters. Although there have been 2 commuters severely smashed up in hit and runs here in recent years. Plenty of commuter fatalities in the news though, from up in Seattle. Motorcycle fatalities down here more than bicycle.

actually, you are wrong on this... it is recommended for motorcyclists to do this very thing to catch the attention of drivers, guess this guy either saw one of the youtube videos on this technique or came up with it independently...

Serious bicycle wrecks causing death are rare enough that they make sensational news stories.

Could you imagine how unsafe cars would seem if every crash resulting in occupant death were to be reported? They'd need a 24 hour, round the clock channel or 3 devoted to it. Yet people get in cars every day with nary a thought of their mortality.

Right. Our approach to danger is not rational. Our perception of danger is inversely proportional to how often we do something, not to how dangerous it is. We ride in or drive cars frequently, so we don't ponder the danger much.

I try not to think about it, but we had a local cyclist killed here this past weekend. Driver was drunk and high. He could have killed anyone though. Not just a cyclist.

Often. I ride with front and rear lights.

My wife and son have standing orders. If a vehicle hits me and I die, the offender gets my lawyer on their tail for a few years for whatever outcome that can be achieved. In my opinion if a driver is texting and they kill a cyclist, they texter should be tar and feathered or at least drawn and quartered......just so my view if clear.

Freakonomics » The Season of Death: A New Marketplace Podcast

Yup.

I can't say I think about it all that much. But because of this thread I might think of it more. In 2 years and many thousands of miles commuting on rural 2-lane roads, I can only recall one time where I really came close to having to bail, when this motorist tried passing me over a blind hill as I continued to motion for him to stay back, and another car came the other way right over the hill. That was scary. Otherwise I use various methods and techniques that keep me as conspicuous and predictable as possible.

Ever contemplate your mortality on the road?

Actually, in one of my most serious contemplations of mortality, the Road served as a relief:

I've thought about it a couple times as I ride my bike on fast, busy two-lane highways, but really don't fret about it. For what it's worth, I could very possibly die in my sleep from a handful of causes or slip in the shower and hit my head just right. We all take risks in the everyday things we do. Although, it does makes one think twice whether wearing a helmet, hi-viz clothing and having bright lights are really worth it as what good is being seen if the driver of the car that hits you is intoxicated or asleep?

I know I'm not invincible, I simply live each day as if it were my last.