Mayor strikes blow to safety from seat of his bike

AS AN avid cyclist and regular bike commuter, I read with interest the June 10 article about Mayor Menino's recent accident while riding his bike ("Mayor cycles through mishap," City & Region). While I appreciate the mayor's efforts in promoting cycling as a healthy alternative to driving, I'm upset by this incident for a number of reasons.

I'm concerned that he didn't report the accident to the authorities, but rather brushed it off. Accidents between cars and bikes are not to be taken lightly, and I think he should have been more concerned as to why it happened. The police should have been involved (as they would have been if the accident involved two cars).

I'm upset that the article identifies the sun as a probable cause, and leaves it at that. During my bike commutes, I have trained myself to assume that every driver cannot see me, and that these same drivers will likely make driving decisions that will endanger my life. This defensive mechanism is effective in most cases, but it is imperative that each driver be responsible for his or her vehicle in order to ensure safety for all of the legal users of our roadways.

JASON M. CLEVENGER
Newton