[Jhawk23]

I can apologize for “deserved” as the wrong choice of word. It would have been more accurate to say “was very VERY lucky to not have been killed or mangled.”

But I stand by the rest. First, I point out that I wasn’t pissed off.

Just the opposite. As I said right up front, I have biked in traffic myself, I believe in sharing the road, and I give bikers their space. Please note too that I didn’t honk at this group, or scream at them, or flip them off.

No, I posted this and ran the risk of getting angry replies like yours because their concern about safety was so breathtakingly lacking that I felt like I ought to try to reach this group to make them aware how close they came. Not one of them looked over his shoulder to check oncoming traffic. If any ONE THING had been different — if I had just assumed they would honor the yield sign, if I hadn’t slowed and braked, if the speed limit was 50 on this road instead of 30 (and I’m sure you’re right that there are people who drive at 50, I see them all the time); if there had been a car in the left lane, if traffic was heavier, if it wasn’t me happening by right then but maybe some Marymount student rushing to get to class or some half-blind little old lady — the results could have been tragic.

I do occasionally observe a cyclist who is clearly observing rules and precautions, as you say you do. I congratulate you – your reward is that you’ll be safer out there. But for every one case like that, I see 8 or 9 of the more careless sort so I also don’t think I’m being judgmental – or shall I say, not unreasonably so.

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