--Nobody’s intentionally trying to hurt anyone.--

You obviously don't ride.

There is a pretty good book out there "Road Rage to Road Wise" by Dr John Larsen. It's a quick read and touches on some good reality check.

Cars make people go crazy. Some years back, a focus group was discussing the phenomena and it was determined, at least in part, that the perceived threats formed while driving, caused hormonal responses resulting in anger and rage.

You are correct though, it is a driver problem.

A couple of years ago, around the Boston area, there was a car crashing into a building at least once a week for about a year and a half. This stopped for a while during Covid, now is happening again.

It is worse. The sticks grew up, more people live there, and it is still the same few, narrow roads that everyone tries to drive on to get anywhere. They will run you off the road to save 5 seconds.

Fuck cars.

BTW; there is a local product sold around named "After Bite". It is a handy tube of ammonia solution and takes away the sting and reduces swelling. It is indispensable.

I have been experimenting with coconut oil for Black Fly, Deer Fly, and whatever that new little black triangle SOB is, and have had favorable results. They fly around but will not land. The downside is it is a little greasy and I feel it keeps your body a little warmer than I would like. The other thing is an overwhelming craving for a Pina Colada.

>I choked on my coffee at 2:10, thanks.

Lots of boats out of Gloucester. Nice area to live, as well.

Cycling around here has become a next level of suck, that's how I can describe it best. The last few years have become a very unpleasant cycling experience. Close passes and agro drivers are the norm every ride, laws be damned.

The road design through there facilitates speed, not safety. The next intersection is Main and No Main and there is at least one crash there a day,

I don't think there was a planned design, it just morphed. When they redid exit 3, there was no pedestrian or cycling infrastructure included for the underpass.

Didn't say that they did, there are no details. However, cars drive through there much too fast, oblivious to anyone trying to cross. The speed limit around there should be 20 mph max.

I tried to cross there a couple weeks ago and no one would stop for the poorly marked crosswalk. Finally, a couple of cars stopped.