Yesterday evening, on my ride home, I was approaching Landsdowne from Wabash in the far right lane. It was just after rush hour, but Wabash is historically known for a lack of traffic cops and an over-abundance of speedy motorists that always have to be somewhere extremely important.

Just as I was beginning to think I’d become a “presence” on my route home, I was buzzed by a Black Honda Civic with a bike rack on the back! Seriously!

I have taken great pains to ensure the safety of other motorists, and drive much more defensively now that I’ve been cycling almost every day. I assume that most other cyclists have had a similar shift in the paradigm of their own driving experience.

I have been making a point to ease my frustrations, and have relaxed the urge to spit, throw water bottles, and scream at cars if they drive too close, honk or harass me. But, I’m confounded at the fact that a fellow cyclist would endanger me.

It just so happened that a motocylce officer of the St. Louis municipal police department saw exaclty what happened, and abruptly pulled the motorist over. At first, I thought he was after me. Most people, police officer or not, believe that cyclists are not supposed to ride in traffic, but instead on the sidewalk.

Another cyclist pulled up next to me at the light at Landsdowne & River Des Peres Blvd to comment that motorists on Wabash are assholes. I responded, “Wait until I get to Mackenzie, then you’ll see some assholes.”

I can’t tell you how much MORE dangerous sidewalk riding is than obeying all traffic laws as a motorist (which is what cyclists are considered by law in Missouri). Imagine yourself crossing a random intersection on the sidewalk, and realize that no car getting ready to enter traffic from a side street is looking as far down that sidewalk as you are. They are looking for slow-traveling pedestrians, not to strike a cyclist who appears out of nowhere.

I’ve been doing myself a great favor lately when I feel threatened by passing traffic: I take the lane, thereby forcing traffic to change lanes to pass me. I do this only in situations where speed limits are the highest. I also believe that cars breaking behind me allows motorists behind them more of a warning as well.

All thoughts and comments are welcome.