Bike Hugger 

I used to bike commute and tourist in downtown Seattle.  I always used to think it was a little creepy to have high voltage wires for the bus trolleys right overhead.  It didn’t stop me though.

In general I’m very grateful for street cycling in that it has kept my amygdala in great condition - and I’ve seen what happens to everyone else.  Lately in fact it seems like all passive-agressive hell is breaking loose.

Nick in Morgantown, WV

Fears…wow…it’s a long and constantly fluid list.  In some circumstances, there’s not much, but in others, the thought of a rock under a front tire at high speed, a random blowout, an unpredictable swerve (for whatever reason) from a car next to me or oncoming, gusts of wind, patches of invisible ice or slimy mud on corners - all of these and more can make my spine shiver, and make me wake up and pay attention.  I like that.  Paying attention is what makes life worthwhile.  I, also, have had the ineffable experience of slamming a door in a driver’s face (on two separate occasions!), and it all comes of paying attention. If you hadn’t guessed; the expression on those drivers’ faces as I rode by: priceless.  As far as fears are concerned, I find that they are magnified several times if I get into a car; I am not only afraid of what could happen to me, but also of what I could do to someone else.  Thus, the fears I experience quickly reach a level that increases my stress while driving, and I also begin to fear that I may be getting lazy. Bottom line: I don’t drive much on account of being a ‘fraidy cat.  Riding a bike feels much more secure.

One of my first rides in Seattle, I popped up onto a curb that had a metal rail on it—I slid like a BMXer doing a trick. Amazed that I pulled that off, I then continued on and rode across the Fremont bridge not knowing any better, on a grate, in the rain, terrified. After that harrowing ride, I realized that I wasn’t in Kansas anymore (had ridden mostly rural roads in Eastern Washington) and I better start paying attention. Skateboards, more so than roller bladers are especially sketch on my routes. Not afraid of them exactly, but I’ve got a bell I bling when they start kicking and flipping their boards around.

Late last year I gave into temptation and rode from the top of Dexter Ave onto the Aurora Bridge, riding the sidewalk. Man, nothing’s scared me on my bike that much in a long time, and I can’t believe people ride that thing. Between hitting a pedal on the huge curb and flopping into traffic, and a gust of wind pushing you up & over the ‘freemont falls’ guard rail (which seems like a realistic to this slightly acrophobic cyclist)there’s not much room for comfort. Never again.

Aside from that, doors. Specifically, getting doored and then falling into the street and getting crushed by dump truck. Having been doored, it’s easy to imagine the danger’s all in the door, which is not entirely true.

Last fear: tiny dogs on leashes on the burke gillman trail in the dark. There are lots of dangers on multi-use trails, but tiny dogs on leashes has to be the most hillarious/frightening. I can’t imagine cleaning the gore of a papillion (http://www.akc.org/breeds/papillon/index.cfm) out of my drive train.

I’m afraid of people text messaging while walking on the Alki Trail walking in front of me. I’m afraid of running over a small child (no one child in particular).

Mostly though, I’m afraid of having a head-on collision with some spandex clown Lance wannabe who’s hogging the trail and is unwilling to slow down on a curve.

I’m afraid of the double dump trucks.  The cab goes by, you relax a bit, and then there’s the back part!  20 feet behind, the wheels are bigger, is the driver really looking?  It just seems like the second part is so much more panic inducing.  Ecccch!

R

Fear of dooring is definitely my biggest one, riding in Chicago.  People driving on the roads are generally good at looking out for cyclists, but almost no one looks for cyclists before opening a door of a parked car.  It does not help that bike lanes are prime door zone real estate.

I certainly fear the doors…. but my “favorite” little irrational fear is that I’m going to snap a brake cable while zooming down the hill on Roy Street, and careen into crossing traffic below… and ultimately over the retaining wall and into the freeway. I guess I’ll just keep an eye on the brakes and take it slow!