ChrisCowan.us
I'm just your average 30 something white geeky male who want's to be cool... but it's hard when you drive a minivan!
TwitterFacebookFlickrYoutubeThoughts about bike safety
When people start riding they often ask me if I've had very many close calls. I usually chuckle and say "well it depends on your definition of a close call". I've had many people do dumb things in front of me and a few that made me nervous but the closest call I've had was walking home at night in a crosswalk from the train station (sans bike). I had to dive out of the way and felt the wind of a truck's bumper on my legs.
This year I completed 3900+ with out a fall or "real close call" where I saw my life flash in front of my eyes (I had a few incedents with idiot drivers... yelling... hard braking... etc). I think riding a bike on the street is prefectly safe if you ride smart and stay aware.
I'm pretty aggressive with reguards to how I ride in the street. I ride pretty far to the left, enough to be safe but also enough to be uncomfortable to drivers, I want them to think twice about passing me. I don't believe in being invisible, I want drivers to see me. If they honk then I know they see me. I try to balance things out by being curtious when it's safe (moving out of the way at lights... smiling... etc). When I see a car at a drive way I ring my bell, wave and smile.
Off the bike (for a few days)
I woke up yesterday morning at 5 am with some sore knees (again) but instead of going back to bed I decided to go for a 50 mile ride.
