I heard yesterday at work that a cyclist was hit by a car and airlifted to the hospital yesterday morning...at the same time I was commuting to work, just on the other side of town. I was a bit more nervous riding home yesterday and then back to work this morning. I think I'll add another taillight to my bike for my morning commute.

I have a thunderbolt...any other suggestions?

I haven't heard any updates on the cyclist that was hit.

Tragic events close to us can be upsetting. Rationally, you're risk riding to work is exactly the same yesterday and today, as it was the day before yesterday.

Nothing's changed. Riding a bike is potentially dangerous. Statistically however, that danger is a pretty low risk, and more than offset by the health benefits.

So don't wig out because you hear of an accident.

How many motorists died yesterday commuting to work? Yet we still drive.

Sadly more lights aren't going to help when everyone is speeding and distracted by their cell phones. Merlin's sentiments are correct. For me, quality of life increasing in every way when i commute by bike and it outweighs risks/fears. Just be as vigilant as you can and control what you can control and don't overly worry about what you can't

Accidents happen, and some people are unlucky, but cycling is much more likely to prolong your life than shorten it. And you'll enjoy it more, too.

But irrationally, his risk is a lot less. What are the odds that two cyclists are injured in the same town so close to the same time? I'd say he's safe for a good year.

I have a dinotte quadRed and that thing is eye-searing even in daylight. I'm sure there are other good lights but the specific models escape me at the moment. The electronics sub-forum will have more information than you ever wanted to read if you care to go over there with the same questions.

Consider also adding a light to the back of your helmet - I believe it makes a cyclist more visible and the different movement of the seatpost light and helmet light also stands out more. I see tons of (usually shorter) people on bikes with a dim blinky attached to the seat post under a large saddle bag - you can't even see the thing. Do a self-audit and make sure you can see yours.

And of course, if you're riding at night, get some reflective gear.

Statistics and probability are a lost art in 2015. Your comments are indeed irrational.

You could wear as well a security vest. I did this for a time after almost being hit by an RV on a small byway. It looks ridiculous but being alive is nice!

I don't miss riding my bike in the states. People are simply not used to seeing and/or looking out for bicyclists. Of course, depends on where you live really. My friend in OR owns a house and three cars but he prefers to take the bike to school every day. People stop and ask him if he needs a ride or help because they think 1) his car broke down, or 2) he is poor and needs a hand. At least Americans are nice! These Germans are quite another story. I will stop ranting now.

people in cars aren't paying attention most of the time.

I was hit a little over 2 months ago, and spent several hours in the ER. I'm now on the bike again, and in no greater danger (actually, probably a little less since the accident taught that my confidence in the safety measures I took making other drivers able to see me are a but unfounded). What it did do, however, is reveal the gravity of the dangers on the road. I'd be lying if I said I don't get a little nervous.

Ah well... ignorance is bliss. I'm sure I'll get my confidence back, along with a retina-searing rear light.

Do you get uneasy when you get behind the wheel of a car after hearing that someone in town was killed or seriously injured in a car accident?

I know the statistics are on my side. That's why I still rode to work today. Just made me think about the risks more consciously after I heard about it. Normally I pretty much don't think about getting hit at all. I'll get back to that in a day or two.

No, and that's not a fair comparison. If things that were 20x the weight of my truck routinely zipped past me, within 3-4 ft of me, going 40 mph faster than I am, then we could use that example.

It is a fair comparison. Using your logic from the OP, if someone is killed while driving their car in your town it should make you more nervous when you are driving your car. The weight difference between cars & bikes is irrelevant. What is relevant is fearing that proximity to an accident increases your future risk. Why limit your concern to your town? You could be concerned each time you read about an accident in your state, or your country. The logic (or lack thereof) is the same.

Its a perfectly fair comparison. You know nothing of the other cyclist's behavior, and similarly many people are killed or seriously injured in collisions in which they were not remotely responsible. Also, things that size do routinely zip around your truck (unless you drive a cement mixer).

Adding lights is good, because it's fairly inexpensive and it may make you feel safer. I doubt it would make you actually safer, but feelings are important too.

There are inherent dangers in everything you do. There's no immediate danger in eating a big mac, and even if you eat one everyday, there's so no immediate danger. But that Big Mac is likely going to kill you, just not immediately.

We're all dying; we're just on different schedules. That's all.

Life is terminal. Also, life isn't short. Life is the longest thing you will ever actively do. Aside from being not alive, life is the longest experience. Fill it with things you enjoy.

Until that cement mixer passes me at 100 mph in a 55 zone, it's apples to oranges.

For petes sake, you're making an argument and a bigger deal out of this than was intended.

Im not crying, I'm not balled up in the fetal position in a corner, I'm not headed to the doctor for anxiety meds. Just a local recent event made me think a little bit.


And it's still not a valid comparison until you stand the same chance of survival in a car vs car wreck as you do in a car vs bike wreck. If you can't see that, you're either trying to argue or not great at logic yourself...

Don't you know that lacking confidence now is highly irrational and unlogical? After all, the odds are waaaaay on your side. HTFU.

Sarcasm aside, what happened?

? The comparison is completely valid. You don't stop driving because a driver dies, why stop cycling because a cyclist dies? The comparison doesn't rest on the similarities between cars and bikes.

I didn't stop riding my bike either. Your point is invalid.

? I know you didn't...

You're really struggling to have an internet argument here.

Probability doesn't work that way. His risk of getting hit is exactly the same as it was before the other cyclist was hit. His potential event is not affected by the other.