(T@H thread regarding the Texas couple killed by driver / hit from behind on road shoulder)

After the recent thread on the couple that was killed in Texas while cycling, and all the follow-up discussion, I decided to put a few thoughts down on paper. And I hope that this doesn’t appear to be someone climbing on a soapbox since most of you are pretty savvy types when it comes to being safe on the road.

Pete Penseyres and I (tandem content!) have discussed many times the following philosophy while out on the road (usually right after a car nearly cuts us off!). It doesn’t matter when you’re riding if you have the right away if you also don’t use a heavy dose of common sense to go along with your ‘rights’. I’ve read way too many accounts where a motorist will get a slap on wrist for hitting a cyclist, even if the driver is guilty of some sort of traffic infraction; or a drunk driver will kill or hit someone numerous times and keep driving.

The only people that are going to benefit if you are hit and killed by a motorist are your heirs - and only if the driver was insured or has money. And as much as I love my family and friends, I don’t want to give them an early inheritance at my expense. I also don’t want to spend the rest of my life not being able to enjoy the outdoors or riding.

I’m a cycling advocate, and, basically, a grumpy old man that can be as stubborn as anyone when it comes to demanding my share of the road when riding. But I also don’t want to be taken down by a case of road rage that’s going to put me in the hospital - no matter what the ‘payday’ might be!

I have been known to follow a car into a parking lot after they nearly killed me, and let them know they’re a bit of a bonehead for not paying attention (like driving while texting or on the phone); but I balance this with the environment I’m in for a given situation, and whether there is the potential for a dangerous escalation (or the driver is a gang member with a hidden gun, eh?!).

There are riding situations where I know I have the right away but in some of these situations I’ll take ‘plan B’ since I know the potential for an inattentive driver to hit me is just too high - I’m sure many of you have similar scenarios where it’s smarter not to put yourself in the middle of a dangerous situation even if you have the right away. The driver might be truly sorry that they hit you - or that you had the right away - but that’s not good enough for me.

I think many of the cycling organizations refer to this as defensive riding. Of course, when someone hits you from the rear while riding on the right hand shoulder - like in Texas - there isn’t much you can do.

O.K., I’ll get off the soapbox now …

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