When you're driving in a car, you have the luxury of expressing yourself. Bumper stickers and window decals declare: "Baby on Board," "Back Off" and "As a matter of fact I do own the road."

But when you're bicycling, on two wheels and pedal power, it's harder to sit back and make a statement. Not just because sticker space is limited. You can't afford to relax.  Automobile drivers are more distracted than ever. They talk on their phones, send and receive text messages, program their GPS systems and twiddle their MP3 players. Now, more than ever, when you're on a bike, your primary focus must be on protecting yourself from dangerous car traffic.

Bicycle-related accidents are on the rise. Of the vehicles on the roads today, bicycles are the most vulnerable. For ecological reasons, and due to a down economy, the number of bicyclists is increasing. So are the risks. 

Bikers Gear Up

In any accident involving a cyclist and motor vehicle, the cyclist is going to lose—suffering serious injury or even death. A strategy that can increase the margin of safety is what is known as "defensive bicycling." Beyond wearing a helmet—an absolute must-- there are several things cyclists can do to increase their chances of staying alive. Here is a short list:

1.  Obey the rules of the road—the same rules cars are supposed to obey.

2.  Wear reflective clothing in international high visibility yellow or orange.

3.  Buy and use a flashing LED taillight—they are cheap and weigh next to nothing.

4.  Watch the drivers. Make eye contact. If they don't look at you they don't see you. If they are texting, or gabbing on their cell phones, they won't see you.

5.  Expect drivers to act without seeing you:  if you see backup lights, expect them to back into your path; if you see drivers parked, expect them to open their doors into your path.

6.  Have an emergency "bail out" route.  Hard right into bushes is softer and more survivable than straight ahead into windshield.

Be Very Wary of "Road Rage"

Bicycle-related accidents can and do result from angry drivers.  Tension-inducing road congestion, extreme temperatures, sudden lane changes, abrupt acceleration and braking, bad news or a fight at home, or even a driver's feeling of superiority can  all put a cyclist in real danger. Drivers may be upset in general, or they may feel the bicyclist has insulted them.  In any "road rage" situation the person on the bike is exposed and extremely vulnerable. Do not challenge or confront enraged drivers, or drivers who are drunk, or high on drugs. Apologize, go meekly away, and live to ride another day.

Protect Yourself

In the event of an accident, the bicyclist can protect his or her rights by seeking an attorney with experience representing victims of  bicycle/car accidents. Experienced and competent bicycle injury counsel can protect the injured bicyclist from being hurt twice—once by the driver who hit him, and again by the adversary legal system.   

For some, throwing on a pair of biking shorts and grabbing a water bottle is all the preparation needed for a leisurely ride. But for the growing number of people who depend on pedaling for the daily commute, the best answer to distracted or aggressive driving,  is defensive bicycling—doing your utmost to protect your personal safety while you are riding the road.