We live in an incredible area for cycling. In 6 years, I only had one incident. When living in Metro Seattle, it was one a week.
That being said, I never ride without my Fly6. Garmin’s new unit looks promising as well. I am educating drivers, one at a time.
"Educating" can be worthwhile. I posted this in another thread a few years back. After an incident with a city bus, I sent this email to the director of public transport for the city:
I am writing to you to describe an incident that happened yesterday (Sept 1, 2016) and ask for your help in ensuring that citybus drivers are more aware of cyclists and understand how the rules of the road apply to them.
At about 7:45 a.m. I was riding west bound (on the North side of the road) along Sonoma Ave in Montgomery Village (between Farmer's and Hahman). As I approached the bus stop in the middle of that block, I saw a bus stopped at the blue shelter and loading passengers. This of course requires them to pull over to the curb and block the bike lane.
I looked over my left shoulder and saw no cars approaching in the lane. I signaled with my hand and moved left to go around the bus. When I was even with the rear 1/4 of the bus, the bus accelerated into the lane, cutting me off. I had to brake suddenly and return to the bike lane. I was able to do so, but clearly a second or two would make all the difference between this and a very dangerous situation. Although the sun was rising behind me, the morning was heavily overcast. And I was riding a white bike and wearing a bright red jacket.
At the stop light half a block later I pulled up behind the bus and took note of the number on the back: xxxxxx.
There are many possible explanations for why the driver would do this, and I think true negligence and ill intent are far and away the least likely. So I want to make it clear that I am bringing this to your attention in hope that you will see to the proper training and education of the drivers. Unless this is (or becomes) a recurring theme with a particular driver, I am not requesting discipline in any way. I simply want Santa Rosa to continue on its way to becoming a premier bike friendly city.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Several days later, I got a reply saying that my very specific description of where and when this happened enabled them to find the incident on cameras mounted on the bus. They reviewed the film not only with the driver in the bus that day, but with all drivers.
It might be worth the time and trouble sometimes.