Originally Posted by Hiro11

After about 30 years of riding on the road, I'm seriously considering giving it up. Several things have given me pause:

• Getting hit by a car two years ago
• Increasingly dealing with narrow misses due to oblivious / distracted driving on most rides
• Jerks deliberately driving dangerously on most every ride
• The availability of good alternatives: extensive limestone paths around my house, single track, gravel roads etc. I enjoy running, I enjoy swimming.
• General responsibilities of being a father/husband/main earner.
• I live in an area not very conducive to riding anyway: terrible weather, lots of traffic, limited route options etc

Overall, I also have a general sense that I'm "swimming upstream" by riding on the road. Drivers seem in general agreement that we have no right to be there. Police won't defend my rights to be there. Courts generally grant great leniency to drivers. Co-workers think I'm crazy. Wife has said she's terrified every time I ride on the road. Etc.

So, I think I'm done here. Anyone else feel similarly?