I lived in Canada for ten years. I biked every day. However, during that time Canada's gold medal cyclist was paralyzed by being hit by a garbage truck whose

I lived in Canada for ten years. I biked every day. However, during that time Canada's gold medal cyclist was paralyzed by being hit by a garbage truck whose driver had been deliberately trying to scare the cyclist repeatedly (to the point he'd called the cops) and yet got off entirely. I moved to New York City and I stopped cycling almost immediately. Vacillating between anxiety, terror and rage was not good for me. Twenty years later I bought a bike, and a month later give it to my neighbor - even with a few bike paths, it was just as bad. Thirty years after I had come to NYC, I moved to the Netherlands. And now I bike absolutely everywhere. Cars treat bikes like they are gold. Several times, cars have hard-braked because they suddenly noticed me, even though I wasn't in danger. Every single car that stops for me here gets a smile and a wave, because I so, so, so appreciate being able to bike again, and being treated like my life has value.