Quote Originally Posted by PscyclePath View Post
Be assertive. Plan to take the right-of-way when you have it. If a car looks as if it will turn left in front of you as you proceed through an intersection, continue pedaling, look at the driver and be prepared to make an instant turn to the right if indeed the driver acts illegally and fails to yield to you.
I love this bit. Especially the "continue pedaling" part. Drivers take cues, sometimes without consciously noticing. "Not pedaling" means "bike stopping" means "I have time to go" to the driver, and that's in part how left hooks happen (driver makes a left turn onto the cyclist traveling in the other direction).

Sometimes I drop in an easier gear and pedal faster as I near an intersection, without necessarily going faster, just to make myself appear faster to drivers. (But that's a bit extreme in the "defensive riding" department.)

  • When you wave at other drivers, use all the fingers on your hand, not just the middle one.
Really funny.