Is cycling worth it? - Part 2

The following question was put to a fellow blogger Jason M (http://gohard.blogspot.com/). He is an ambulance paramedic and a cyclist. I wanted to get his opinion on cycling & safety...

How do think being exposed with trauma/accidents at work effects your day to day life. Are you overly cautious regarding risks as you know what can happen? How do you deal with cycling on the roads? Does it worry you? I am thinking hard about whether I want to be a cyclist long term due to the risks associated with riding in traffic etc.

A quote from his answer...

"Gone are the days when I would squeeze through gaps which aren't really there, push through a red light and simply go just because I have right of way. Arguing over who was right or wrong is kind of a moot point when argued through a breathing tube. My approach now is I follow the road laws and refuse to ride with those who do not. I ride assertively, taking my rightful place on the road, making it clear my intentions and maximising my visibility. This is very different to aggressive riding, where you force your position on the road. Deliberately block cars because you are allowed to. The difference is courtesy. Last is I try to ride smart. Looking and planning ahead. Do the driver's thinking for them, and assuming they cannot see you.

Yes there are risks to cycling on the road, but there are risks walking down the street or even sitting on your couch. We make decisions every day, often without realising it. These are often based on risk versus benefit, or even risk versus pleasure. There is a level of comfort for everyone that is individual."

I thought it was a very interesting answer considering his profession.

I find that as I am becoming more confident on the bike (or in the traffic), that I am becoming safer. I take my rightful place on the road much more readily and indicate much more clearly my intentions. I am also very conscious to choose the most safe roads. This isn't always the back streets, but sometimes it is. As Jason says, it is about getting comfortable with the risk versus benefit. I will continue to consider these matters.