Question of the week:  Are you a timid rider?  Tuesday I was on my usual work ride through the canyons, carefully descending Benedict Canyon.  I know people are still sleepy and not paying enough attention, so I am wary of people pulling out of their driveway into the road.  Well someone was rolling out of the driveway, intending to continue right on into the street without stopping.  I yelled out a primal scream to get their attention, while pulling the brakes and starting to sweep wide around them.  It worked, and I got the extra seconds I needed to avoid a collision.  Don’t be timid when you need to.  I don’t want to ride like a jerk, yelling at people for no reason; however, there is a place and time for being loud.  Use your voice. 

Safety Tip of the Week:  Put down the phone-This shouldn’t even need to be said, but talking on the phone, texting, or checking Instagram while biking endangers everyone. Also refrain from listening to headphones that close off the ear, because they can make it more difficult to hear approaching cars and pedestrians.