As a long time cyclist (40+ years) I have developed a pragmatic approach to safe and responsible cycling that has served me, and those around me well. First you must accept these "Truisms of the Road"

1. You the cyclist will be sharing the road with motorized vehicles much larger and stronger than yourself that can easily squash you like a bug

2. The humans (motorists) piloting those vehicles have been trained to follow a clear set of rules governing motorized transport on public roads.

3. Motorists are primarily aware of and trained to recognize other motorized vehicles on the roadway

4. The most often heard quote at the scene of a bicycle/motor vehicle accident is, "I never saw him/her"

Accepting these truisms the cyclist who values their own life will increase their chances of a long and happy cycling career by simply doing every thing in their power to increase the odds of BEING SEEN by following these simple rules:

1. Obey the Rules of the Road -Don't run lights, stop signs, ride on the wrong side of the road (or down a one way street, John). Think of your bicycle as a vehicle, follow the accepted rules for vehicles and you dramatically increase your chances of BEING SEEN as such. Give 'em what they expect.

2. Be Obvious - At the risk of offending the local fashion police dress in bright, perhaps garish clothing. I don't mind if people snicker at my bright "euro" lycra look. Their laughter assures that I have been seen. Use clearly understood (rules of the road) and obvious signals for lane changes and turns, just like a car without signals, well before you turn. Again, give 'em what they have been trained to expect. (as a side note, I'm not upset if I get an occasional rude gesture or remark because I'm riding at the right hand side of a through or turn lane on a multi-lane road, it means I have been seen - better obvious than squashed)

3. Use Common Sense - Sure it may be legal to ride a tight lane between parked cars and a line of stopped traffic, but it greatly increases your risk of collision. Does that make sense? As cyclists we often bemoan the fact that motorists are impatient if their trip is delayed 30 seconds waiting to get around us. What about the 10 or 15 second delay we experience at a stop sign or waiting for a car passenger to off-load? Use the golden rule and apply common sense. What's the hurry, you're on your bike, enjoy! You can be "right" all the way to the morgue.

Common sense can cut the other way too. Yes, occasionally I roll through stop signs. But only on weighing all of the factors in that situation. I do it in my car too if the situation and safety allows. But if I get a ticket, that's my bad. I don't whine about it, I broke the rules, I'm responsible.

4. Ride Defensively - In our "No Fear - Second Place is First Looser" culture the concept of defensive driving seems to be held in disfavor, except for Motorcycles and Bicycles. At all times plan ahead, imagine worst scenarios, and calculate the odds rather than taking chances and creating increased risk for yourself and others sharing the road. Oh, and remember why you are riding your bike. Hopefully it's because you enjoy it.

Those are good rules. Let me suggest one more:

Always have a flashing bright red LED light on the back of the bicycle in the evening, night or inclement weather.

Great post. I don't ride a bike but definitely subscribe to rule #4 that safety is of paramount importance. Big problem I see is how so many people are willing to jeopardize public safety because they lack patience. Maybe you're in a hurry, maybe you're late, maybe you're rushed -- so am I a lot of the time -- but I really try not to drive that way.

+1. Great advice. The problem is that on these and other message boards most of the bikers nod their heads in agreement (figuratively of course) with these guidelines, but out on the road a large number of these same nodders aren't actually practicing them. On some days, over 90% of them on my route seem to pay zero attention to them.

In most areas the law states that both front and rear lights are required when riding from 30 minutes before sundown to 30 minutes after sunrise.

how many car drivers (yes, it includes you, and you) follow the rules of the road? Proper signaling, stopping *before* the line, no illegal turns or u-turns, both hands on the wheel at all times, checking the mirrors, no cell phone, eating, drinking, applying makeup etc.

I see my share of inconsiderate cyclists, but for every instance of a cyclist doing the wrong thing I see a dozen instances where drivers are inconsiderate or breaking the rules of the road. I suspect that a majority of people who get angry at cyclists and who comment gleefully on this forum how they want to run cyclists over and injure them, have broken some of these rules - without even knowing that they are doing something wrong.

Cyclists may violate some rules of the road, but if it is done safely and for the safety reasons (as it is often the case), it is justified. On the other hand, people who complain about cyclists, yet often put cyclists in danger by their inconsiderate driving - are hypocrites. At least cyclists look out for their personal safety.

I do roll through *some* stop signs - but only after slowing down to ~5mph or so and making sure the road is clear. This is much safer for everyone, trust me. I make full stops at other - more dangerous - stop signs and lights, and wait along with traffic. Sometimes I stop behind cars, sometimes I pull through on the side - especially if I am in the bike lane. sometimes I take the entire lane, when it's unsafe to be passed.

This does not protect me from interactions with drivers who are jerks, or just not paying attention (yes, it applies to you - but you just don't think you are one of those inconsiderate drivers, nobody does).

The problem is NOT the inconsiderate, crazy or newbie cyclists - who sometimes behave like maniacs. The *real* problem is inconsiderate, inattentive drivers, who behave like maniacs. If you don't believe me - get on the bike and go for a long, 60-80 mile ride. Then do it again, and report your observations of inconsiderate cyclists vs. inconsiderate drivers. If you are not an active cyclist, I am afraid your opinion matters very little in this discussion.

OGS1976,

Generalize much? Drivers can be terrible, but putting the blame solely on them is unfathomably stupid. A stupid bicyclist can cause an accident just as easily as a stupid motorist. And the fact that the stupid cyclist is more likely to be killed by their actions doesn't make them any less culpable.

this is because you are not a cyclist, so you see everything from car driver perspective only. As *both* a cyclist and a driver, I can assure you that inattentive, or inconsiderate drivers FAR outnumber maniacally unsafe or inattentive cyclists.

I never generalized that ALL drivers are inconsiderate. But it is wrong to generalize that ALL cyclists are inconsiderate - as implied or stated in many discussions here. Unfortunately, in my experience, the drivers are far more often at fault in car-bicycle interactions out on the road. Some of the comments here seem to confirm this - many posters here blame cyclists when they are themselves are at fault (opening doors into the bike lane without checking first, or letting cyclists pass them on the right when they are waiting for light to change). And then you have people who openly state their desire to inflict physical harm to cyclists.

I can only imagine how many times these very same people did something that threatened the life of a cyclist - without even realizing it.

Really? I don't ride a bike? You know this how?

And yes you did generalize. Here's what you wrote:

"The problem is NOT the inconsiderate, crazy or newbie cyclists - who sometimes behave like maniacs. The *real* problem is inconsiderate, inattentive drivers, who behave like maniacs."

I take issue with the fact that see things as always the driver's fault. That makes you just as bad as people who see things as only the bicyclist's fault. And what you 'see' doesn't matter because your vision is obviously clouded by bias.

Sorry, Colonel, but it's not a generalization or a bias, but an informed observation based on personal experience of having ridden many thousands of miles on the roads - as someone who bikes 200+ miles a week on regular basis, and who also happens to be a driver on daily basis. There are boneheaded cyclists but they are far outnumbered by inconsiderate or inattentive drivers. I am going on an organized 70 mile ride tomorrow with a bunch of friends - and after each ride I can tell you of many instances of drivers behaving badly - but it is relatively rare that we see examples of boneheaded, dangerous cyclist behavior.

A generalization is: "all cyclists are boneheads". A bias is: "I am not a cyclist, therefore cyclists shouldn't have right to use roads".

No your bias is: I'm a good cyclists, therefore all cyclists are good. It's showcased quite well in this thread.

The difference between cyclists who break the law and drivers who break the law: If you were to confront the drivers about their law breaking, most would accept that they had broken the law. Confront the cyclists, most tell you that they shouldn't have to follow the law/they know better/blah blah blah.

What gets me is that no matter how few cyclists are the problem, the cycling community gets up in arms and defends them as though riding a bike gives you carte blanche to be an ass.