As do I. I haven't had a car in 13 years and bicycling's been my primary form of transportation. I've had only one terrible accident ... when a panel truck ran a stop sign in the Quarter and I had to crash myself into the pavement rather than slam head-on into the truck.
I've also endeavored to be extremely careful about folks who open their doors into traffic. One friend of mine was killed that way -- in avoiding a driver's door that was opened, he was run over by a car following too fast and too close behind him. Tragic. Another friend ended up with two black eyes, horrific gashes and a broken arm after running into and being flipped over a careless driver's opened door on Canal Street where he had no room to get out of the way and avoid the cardoor.
Regardless the fact that I follow the rules of traffic myself, I always assume that the cars are not going to do likewise, cannot see me and -- depending on the recklessness of the driver -- may actually be out to kill me. It has not escaped my attention that folks who run red lights or cut too close to me or pass me one moment only to cut me off the next as they try and grab a parking space or make a turn often have a cellphone in their hands and simply are not attentive to the road.
I know I don't have to remind you to wear your helmet because I'm certain your folks -- just like mine -- want to keep that beautiful and extraordinary brain of yours intact and have hammered home the importance of ALWAYS wearing your helmet and making sure you've got the flashers or reflective gear to help folks see you at night.
It took me a while to become a believer in helmets myself -- but between my Mom's nagging and the guys at the bike shop (one of whom's done the Tour de France), I always wear it now ... regardless how goofy I look. =)
Did you read "The Jungle"? It's always disappointed me somewhat that the fiction which has been such a boon to powering the ideas of the left is often a cut above the fiction which enshrines a more balanced perspective of the natural hierarchy inherent in human society.
I'm not sure why that is. If ever I do get around to writing some plays or stories, I hope I can strike a balance between the leftists whose bleeding hearts spin extraordinary stories rife with passions I or any human being can understand and the rightists whose concepts of duty, authority, justice and dignity are not only noble but evidence a genuine charity for the individual and hope for humanity.