The question was posed yesterday by non other than Jack London, "So, it's been a month since you were hit do you have any specific insights or perspectives on cycling in the face of that threat?"
Pay attention. To everything. And react accordingly to save your ass.
That turn signal you see flashing, doesn't mean they're going to turn in that direction. Eye contact you say? It doesn't register to the dim witted driver in a hurry. That truck ready to slow roll thru the stop sign, yup, he's only looking for car headlights at this hour. The tailgater sucking your wheel for what feels like an eternity only to pass thru a blind corner, doesn't realize the potential danger of the situation.
Mixing in cell phones, inclement weather, long commutes, teenagers, and the elderly all amplifies the stupidity I see daily.
Everyone's in a hurry, everyone's late, and if it wasn't for this fucking traffic light, or that family walking across the street, or the tractor trailer going slow up the hill, or that goddamn cop with his radar gun, or the asshole trying to turn left into the grocery store parking lot, or that fucking guy on a bike riding down the middle of the road.... I'd have been there ten minutes ago.
The potential for fast and effortless travel via car is what drives everyone crazy. It makes them take stupid risks to save mere seconds. The consequences of their actions are rarely thought thru and countless accidents could be avoided if everyone just chilled the fuck out and dropped the Me vs. World attitude.
Pick your battles wisely while on the road; hold your line, take the lane as needed, signal your turns, use lights, ride with authority, avoid busy roads whenever possible.
It's not all doom and gloom though, commuting via bike makes the drudgery of the working day all the more bearable. Junk miles my ass too, I'm racking up my base miles for a lifetime of cycling goodness.