I commute from Redmond to Bellevue, and have had similar worries run thru my imagination. I had a dream that a cougar was hanging out along the Samammish Trail and jumped out of the darkness at me. I wonder if lots of flashing blinkies will keep them away?

When I lived in SoCal, one mtb rider was killed and another seriously mauled on a trail near my home. That has stuck with me & I figure if the wildlife is bold or desperate enough to get that close to people, they are fearless. Maybe I shouldn't wear wool this time of year...might be mistaken for a small sheep.