From a CHP report seen recently: "...BICYCLIST COULDNT STOP AND HIT THE BUILDING..."

It jumped out in front of him/her at the last second? Also must have been going pretty fast to hit hard enough for a hospital run. Yeah, I know, it's not a train-involved wreck but ... yes, bicylists seem to have a general disregard for traffic law and common sense, and the flashier the getup the more likely they are to have that attitude.

I ride a bicycle - for commute & errands mostly - and I've had more near-wrecks due to other bicyclists than to cars because I'm usually where I should be (near the right side or in the bike lane if one exists) and generally obey traffic controls. Slower traffic keep right, and in most cases (absent a twisty downhill back road, or totally jammed congestion) bikes are slower than the rest of traffic. There are nuts in cars, too, and I do get a little peeved at people who park in bike lanes, but Newton's Right of Way Law suggests that in a collision the car will win (much like train vs car) whoever's in the right legally. And it's just common sense not to ride in the streetcar tracks - though I see many people do that in downtown Sac even with good servicable alternatives a short block away.