What are your cycling best and worst recomendations?

[OakLeaf]

You can't really assume that every driver can't see you. Life doesn't work that way. If we assume we are invisible we would stop at every intersection when there is oncoming traffic that might decide to turn. We wouldn't ride slower than traffic because someone might right hook us. We would never take the lane. We have to ride defensively and be as visible as we can be, but nevertheless we do make some assumptions about being seen. As a practical matter, we have to.

I never go out anymore without high visibility clothing and flashing lights but I know it doesn't make me safe. Maybe it makes me safer though.

No, I disagree.

Riding as if you're invisible (except to that 10% of motorists who do see you and are trying to kill you on purpose) doesn't mean stopping indefinitely until there's no traffic whatsoever on the road.

It means being prepared to swerve or brake hard if I need to, and having the skills to do so.

It means having complete situational awareness at all times, looking far up the road and using my peripheral vision and my mirror to identify potential hazards, what I call "seeing with my whole eyes." Not being distracted by music, phone calls, my training computer, or even deep conversations with other riders.

It means choosing a lane position based not only on motorists' *ability* to see me if they're so inclined, but also for the availability of escape routes if I need one; the ability to ride predictably i.e. not having to swerve to avoid grates, holes or debris; and the availability of traction (absence of traction-robbing paint, oil, sand, gravel or water) in case I do have to use those swerving/braking skills.

I'm all about hi-viz clothing too, but I'm realistic about what it does. It gives a heads up to the ones who would've seen me and done the right thing anyway - does them the courtesy of helping them see me earlier.

But mostly, I call it "exhibit A." I don't want my family to have to go through what I see in the news all the time, that a dead or injured cyclist is excoriated by news media, the public, and even the prosecutors and cops who should be enforcing the law against the motorist, because they were wearing the wrong clothes. They will find a way to make it my fault regardless, that's what they do, but that's one less thing they'll be able to use.

[goldfinch]

No, I disagree.

Riding as if you're invisible (except to that 10% of motorists who do see you and are trying to kill you on purpose) doesn't mean stopping indefinitely until there's no traffic whatsoever on the road.

It means being prepared to swerve or brake hard if I need to, and having the skills to do so.

It means having complete situational awareness at all times, looking far up the road and using my peripheral vision and my mirror to identify potential hazards, what I call "seeing with my whole eyes." Not being distracted by music, phone calls, my training computer, or even deep conversations with other riders.

It means choosing a lane position based not only on motorists' *ability* to see me if they're so inclined, but also for the availability of escape routes if I need one; the ability to ride predictably i.e. not having to swerve to avoid grates, holes or debris; and the availability of traction (absence of traction-robbing paint, oil, sand, gravel or water) in case I do have to use those swerving/braking skills.

I'm all about hi-viz clothing too, but I'm realistic about what it does. It gives a heads up to the ones who would've seen me and done the right thing anyway - does them the courtesy of helping them see me earlier.

But mostly, I call it "exhibit A." I don't want my family to have to go through what I see in the news all the time, that a dead or injured cyclist is excoriated by news media, the public, and even the prosecutors and cops who should be enforcing the law against the motorist, because they were wearing the wrong clothes. They will find a way to make it my fault regardless, that's what they do, but that's one less thing they'll be able to use.

As a practical matter we don't disagree on the importance of defensive riding skills.