My response has been "the world is a safer place without me behind the wheel of a car" and "I feel a lot better mentally and physically as a result of riding a bicycle daily."

I've been doing it for two or three years and have lost like 30 lbs. Enough people are impressed by the weight loss and health benefits that I can argue they're in more danger as a result of going from sitting in a car, to sitting at a desk, to sitting in a car, to sitting on a couch every day.

Being free of the aggravation of sitting in traffic, responding to the price of gas and dealing with car maintenance has lowered my stress level a lot too.

I like a lot of the responses here. One of my techniques for discussions like this is to start with finding common ground. So if someone says it's dangerous out there, I say, "Yes, I know. Some people are just crazy. To ride a bike out there, you really have to know what you're doing." Bam, I've just implied that I know what I'm doing. If someone wants to hear what expertise I have and how I acquired it, I'm happy to discuss that. The fact is that skill has a huge bearing on how safe you are on a bike. It matters more than whether you wear a helmet, and that's why I'm not a helmet advocate. I wear a helmet, and a helmet once saved my life, but I don't talk about it, because I'm on the skill bandwagon instead. And please, let's not discuss the merits of helmets.

"I encounter fewer drivers acting crazy on a bike then when I drive. They generally feel less threatened."

Oh yes - I used to get this all the time, especially when I was a younger woman, and especially when I attempted to bike commute in professional clothes (rather than looking like the hot mess of bike gear and social deviance that I go for now.)

Co-workers, family, concerned community members - you name it, everyone thought I was going to get hit by cars and die, get mugged after dark and die, or get too hot/cold (and of course die.).

My usual responses focus on things like my experience riding lots of roads in lots of places, route planning, safety features of my bicycle and gear, and bringing up the fact that people die in cars as well (and the bike might be safer, since there's more room to move.)

My favorite, if I'm feeling snarky, is the hardman response: "Oh, yeah, I've been hit a few times. Two were just a bump and didn't even knock me off the bike. The only bad one was back in '08 when I got smacked by a minivan. I broke a few ribs and couldn't sit for two weeks, but I made it to work on time, even worked part of the day before going to Urgent Care!" The reactions are priceless, and I usually do not get schooled on safety again :D

Well, If I'm feeling curt, I usually just say: "Well, car drivers don't want to hit me either."

If they feel inclined to push the issue, then I usually respond with information overload. I extoll the virtues of speed limits, coming to a complete stop at stop signs, obeying all the traffic laws, how the brain/eyes do scanning & fill in the blanks...You are a good driver aren't you?

Then there's the bit about how as fast as cars are, they really aren't any faster from point A to point B for most trips. Partly because of traffic controls, but mostly because of other cars.

Then there's the bit about the danger to everybody else, (the reason for licensing standards, afterall.) & the $500/month obligation just to keep a car around just doesn't make a lot of sense financially, to me. I do have a car, but it's a dozen years old & paid for. "How's that extra shift at work working out for ya?"

I never need to find a parking spot & I can ride all the way to the time clock at work. Trip time is the same no matter which method I choose.

My health really isn't part of the discussion. I really don't think that is a factor in my bike riding. So, I don't bring it up. But the Mr. Metabolic Syndrome at work still gives me a look of disgust, so I must be doing something right. :lol:

Usually when I'm done, they are sorry they've asked.

I just smile, nod, and say “will do”.

I’ve been bike commuting since 1975, so I’m aware – and awareness is key. Its something not everyone has (I cringe when I hear of people dying of the right hook). That said – everything changed about 15 years ago when cell phones got popular. Suddenly it is as if 10% of the drivers are drunk drivers. I tell my kids that they have to ride like people in cars are trying to kill you – as there is not much difference between someone on a cell phone not paying attention an someone who is trying to hit you. The results are too often the same.

So, I avoid routes with traffic as much as possible (unless I’m riding the same speed as traffic), and I always use a helmet mounted rear view mirror.


And oddly, Cars treat me more like a human when I’m wearing street clothes and no helmet, vs wearing lycra and a helmet. Something about the traditional bike outfit removes our humanity.

I agree.

Also, riding styles may differ between me commuting in my Birkenstocks and a lycra-clad race commuter boi with drop-bars.