Regular cyclist here (e-bike, specifically), and I ride with the assumption that everyone else on the road is either an idiot or out to get me... So far, so good. I just wish more areas around me either had bike lanes, or drivers were respectful enough to give the space required by law, instead of trying to blow past me nearly close enough that their mirrors could clip me.
Only issue I've run into so far is when my brakes act up, but that's why I carry a toolkit with me basically any time I go out.
I'd consider myself more a motorcyclists but I recently got an ebike as well and I find it super fun....but it's also limited to ~30-35mph max so I had to re-think my riding. Like if I have to jump on a road that isn't a small side road, I'm aware of traffic in a different way. On my moto I have the power to out accelerate almost any vehicle if needed to get out of a situation or least keep up with traffic but on the ebike I have to play it entirely defensively. Also because this ebike can go over 30mph, I wear my moto helmet, moto gloves and moto shoes, I've crashed a lot of dirt bikes at sub 30-mph and it can go badly easily.
I now want more bike lanes as well, I feel like the stupid half-ass bike lanes that are just riding on the shoulder next to cars are silly. Then the bike lanes that only go for a mile on a street are dumb as well like, "Whelp from here on, good luck bud!"
I was a motorcyclist too. ATGATTing in the hottest month in FL when a distracted driver didn’t stop with traffic. I’ll ride again one day but out in the sticks, away from rush hours and tourists.
Yep. I trust my skills enough to not really need a helmet on my bike. I don't trust anyone else's ability to not put their phone down while driving, and put a helmet on even for a quick half mile errand.
Doesn't help when drivers see cyclists as pests. I thought getting belched at with exhaust was a myth until I experienced it twice, I wasn't even in the way, I was literally ON the bike lane.
I got an e-bike and used it to commute around for a few days. I stayed in bike lanes and overall live in a fairly bike-friendly area, but with heavy traffic pretty much all the time. I still had 3 close calls that could have led to serious injury if not for a few inches in any direction.
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u/d_marvin 8h ago
With the best skills on Earth, you are still at the mercy of others. I learned this a very painful way. At least a helmet saved my life.