Originally Posted by hankj

Yeah it's the die thing. I've been hit probably 5 or 6 times in the city. I've lived in cities mostly for 40 year and cycle in them all the time. In the city I can minimize the potential of death or life changing injury through my choices and behaviors. I ride in the safest corridors and am not remotely above riding on the sidewalk if I decide to go somewhere sketchy. But yeah, if you ride in the city year in year, out your almost certainly going to collide with a car now and again. Last time was a month ago, mail truck turned right in front of me and ran me into a parked car's mirror. But not bad.

Angeles Crest highway though. I rode that road all the time when I live in Pasadena and L.A. Hate it. Yes fewer cars, but so much more potential to die or be in a wheelchair if you do catch the wrong driver. In fact everyone I know directly or through friends who's been seriously f-ed up riding a bike has either got it mountain biking (the winner by a lot) or on a narrower highway.

I do take your point that it's all dangerous to some degree. People die in the city in Seattle on bikes, nearly all of them not experienced cyclists making a bad choice at the wrong time. The serious highway accidents I know and hear about though are often experienced cyclist who nevertheless got clipped by an incompetent, f-up, or a psycho on a narrow shoulder road. Maybe you are right that it's an illusion but in town I feel like I have some control, on a narrow highway every roaring behind me might be the grim reaper
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