Decreased speed limits, the "3 foot law", and most other similar measures do absolutely nothing to protect cyclists; these measures are worhtless without law enforcement, and law enforcement is rarely around to stop/ticket motorists who jeopardize the safety of cyclists. I have been road biking for 3 years and approximately 15,000 miles; in all that time, i have never seen a police officer to enforce the law for my protection. I have had objects thrown at me from cars, cars get right up on me and blast their horn (even though i ride as far to the right as possible), and worst of all, cars routinely squeeze barely by me as they will not wait the 2 or 3 seconds for an oncoming car to pass; these idiots routinely drive on the wrong side of the road on blind curves and over hills such as Chestnut Hill.

There are a lot of drivers who,by their actions, obviously consider cyclists to be 2nd rate citizens on the road. Even though we may obey all the traffic laws, there are many motorists who obviously feel that we have no right being on the road (I have had this screamed at me on several occasions). I was 30 feet from finishing my ride Saturday, riding in the bike lane with the green light, attempting to cross 43rd street and then get up on the sidewalk; there was a woman in an SUV who wanted to turn right on red, who looked right at me, and refused to stop until i kept hollering at her to STOP!!!! I obviously had the right of way and the law is "right on red if there is no traffic, vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian"; this meant nothing to this driver and countless others who do the same thing every day.

I offer this bit of advice for cyclist's safety: wear a helmet, use a mirror, have in mind where you might have to "bail" from your bike, and always assume that the driver either doesn't see you or doesn't care if you are there. A little pre-ride prayer to the cycling gods also never hurts.