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Good luck to you, it's a dangerous game you're playing. It just takes one idiot in a car who doesn't notice you because they're checking their instagram feed,

Good luck to you, it's a dangerous game you're playing. It just takes one idiot in a car who doesn't notice you because they're checking their instagram feed, or whatever, for your life to be over. I knew someone growing up who was a very successful banker. He had everything - 3 kids, a beautiful wife, amazing house, etc. Cycled to work every day. One day, someone didn't see him. Doctors managed to save his life but he was unable to use any muscle from his neck down. Had to be on a respirator for the rest of his life. Couldn't talk. Etc. He killed himself by driving his motorized wheelchair into a pool. He left behind a beautiful family and wife. Good luck, be safe. For the record, I fully support bicyclists and wish our cities were designed better to promote their safe use. Unfortunately, they aren't right now, and I hate to see people needlessly punished for choosing to cycle to work.

tonyedgecombe 8y ago
Taking your place in the lane is much safer than riding in the gutter.
notyourwork 8y ago
Does this also mean we don’t fly planes because of terrorism? I sympathize for the family and such a tragic situation but let’s not blame the biker nor declare biking as not the right transportation because drivers aren’t all awesome at driving.
- rubicon33 8y ago
  You should re-read what I wrote, because I certainly didn't blame the biker. I wished him good luck while acknowledging the fault lies in the "idiot" drivers who are checking their phone rather than paying attention.
imgabe 8y ago
I also knew someone who was very successful and died too young leaving behind 3 kids, a beautiful wife, amazing house etc. (I'm not being flip, this is true). He died in a car accident. I'll take the relatively small risk of being hit while biking in exchange for the 100% chance of the very positive benefits (free exercise, no traffic, free parking). Driving has about the same risk of killing you and 100% chance of making you fat, miserable, and angry.
- refurb 8y ago
  You are 15 times more likely to be killed on Britain's roads if you ride a bike than if you drive a car.[1] If you look at total deaths they may seem comparable to driving, but way more people drive than cycle. Good on you for dedicating yourself to cycling, but you shouldn't ignore the increase in risk. [1]https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cycle-safety-laws-new-kim-briggs-death-warning-against-witch-hunt-a7960291.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cycle-safety...
  - imgabe 8y ago
    You'd also have to take into account the reduction in life expectancy from the stress of driving and additional time being sedentary.
- superfrank 8y ago
  > Driving has about the same risk of killing you I don't think that's true at all. Do you have a source? > 100% chance of making you fat, miserable, and angry. As someone who spent 7 years doing a job that required me being behind the wheel of a car for 5+ hours a day, that is 100% not true. I'm in great shape and actually love driving most of the time. I got rid of my car about a year ago and actually miss driving sometimes.
- rubicon33 8y ago
  > Driving has about the same risk of killing you Doubt that. Given the same roads (city streets, since I assume you aren't biking on the freeway) ... there's just no way you're more likely to die in a car going 15 mph, than a bicycle.
ethbro 8y ago
A friend of a friend, after some yelling traded with an entitled driver, had the motorist turn around, deliberately hit him, then drag him under the vehicle as they fled the scene. (All of this was captured on video with several witnesses) Having someone put away on a muder charge is small comfort for never being able to fully use your body again. Road rage is real. People are assholes. And you're not going to win a bike vs car escalation. #CriticalMass ... but protect yourself at all times.
usrusr 8y ago
Happens to drivers all the time, but is not an interesting story because they did not do anything it of the norm to "deserve" it.

tonyedgecombe 8y ago

Taking your place in the lane is much safer than riding in the gutter.

notyourwork 8y ago

Does this also mean we don’t fly planes because of terrorism? I sympathize for the family and such a tragic situation but let’s not blame the biker nor declare biking as not the right transportation because drivers aren’t all awesome at driving.

rubicon33 8y ago
You should re-read what I wrote, because I certainly didn't blame the biker. I wished him good luck while acknowledging the fault lies in the "idiot" drivers who are checking their phone rather than paying attention.

imgabe 8y ago

I also knew someone who was very successful and died too young leaving behind 3 kids, a beautiful wife, amazing house etc. (I'm not being flip, this is true). He died in a car accident. I'll take the relatively small risk of being hit while biking in exchange for the 100% chance of the very positive benefits (free exercise, no traffic, free parking). Driving has about the same risk of killing you and 100% chance of making you fat, miserable, and angry.

refurb 8y ago
You are 15 times more likely to be killed on Britain's roads if you ride a bike than if you drive a car.[1] If you look at total deaths they may seem comparable to driving, but way more people drive than cycle. Good on you for dedicating yourself to cycling, but you shouldn't ignore the increase in risk. [1]https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cycle-safety-laws-new-kim-briggs-death-warning-against-witch-hunt-a7960291.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cycle-safety...
- imgabe 8y ago
  You'd also have to take into account the reduction in life expectancy from the stress of driving and additional time being sedentary.
superfrank 8y ago
> Driving has about the same risk of killing you I don't think that's true at all. Do you have a source? > 100% chance of making you fat, miserable, and angry. As someone who spent 7 years doing a job that required me being behind the wheel of a car for 5+ hours a day, that is 100% not true. I'm in great shape and actually love driving most of the time. I got rid of my car about a year ago and actually miss driving sometimes.
rubicon33 8y ago
> Driving has about the same risk of killing you Doubt that. Given the same roads (city streets, since I assume you aren't biking on the freeway) ... there's just no way you're more likely to die in a car going 15 mph, than a bicycle.

ethbro 8y ago

A friend of a friend, after some yelling traded with an entitled driver, had the motorist turn around, deliberately hit him, then drag him under the vehicle as they fled the scene. (All of this was captured on video with several witnesses) Having someone put away on a muder charge is small comfort for never being able to fully use your body again. Road rage is real. People are assholes. And you're not going to win a bike vs car escalation. #CriticalMass ... but protect yourself at all times.

usrusr 8y ago

Happens to drivers all the time, but is not an interesting story because they did not do anything it of the norm to "deserve" it.