Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,506
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
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Any road user and really anyone should always be spatially aware. Especially road users because they need to be able to react as quickly as possible to something that might come up. It is not meaning you should ride or drive in fear but you should just be aware of your surroundings so you don't get yourself or anyone else hurt.
Take your lane if legally allowed to do so never try and hug the far ends of the road it is not safe for you. Don't worry about cars behind you, your safety is more important than their own self interest. I can understand maybe moving over for an active ambulance or firetruck which could be saving lives but that is about it and it would only be to let them pass because they so far as I have seen aren't usually using their lights and sirens for anything other than emergencies.
You should always try and signal when turning or if on a group ride if there is something in the road or something to look out for. Every road user should always signal if they are turning and should always use lights at night.
Never ever worry about the emotions of some dip in a motor vehicle, if they are emotionally hurt it is their own fault. If they are angry or whatever emotion they have it is not your fault it is on them unless you have actively done something to them like say throw a bottle at their windshield for gits and shiggles but that is not a realistic thing. You riding normally and them getting mad is their own fault and you shouldn't worry about their idiocy because they feel entitled to a road that we pay taxes equally for but they cause 99.99% of the damage too (with +/- 1% margin of error).
Motorists don't have an inherent right to the road nor are they ordained that road by anyone it is a shared space and if they didn't learn how to share well you aren't their parents and they should know better.
Be confident in your riding, don't be passive be active. You paid for those roads the same as everyone else and you should be able to use them without fear (or at least without any crippling fear).