General cycling issues (Is Toronto bike friendly?)

[littlewill1166]

If you are still alive!

Let's say you try to stay close to the curb. If you get sideswiped because someone is trying to squeeze past and misjudge the clearance between their car and your bike, you lose balance and get run over by another car behind you. You could also be dead! But then it's far less clear-cut about who's wrong, and it opens the door to he said she said...

Or, what's more likely, you'll get doored! This is why I ride at least the width of a door away from parked vehicles when travelling at high speeds (which often means the centre of the lane).

As a motorcyclist we’re drilled in training about defending or surrendering your ROW - you can be resolutely right and dead or sensible and live.

You can also be resolutely right and live, you can also try to be sensible and die (see scenario above). You can also be sensible and right at the same time (this is the best combination). There are more than two combinations.

I think what's more important is that you drive, walk, and bike, in a way that is commensurate to your personal risk tolerance, skill level, and ability while taking into account external conditions.