Man I hate talking about this. It’s a sad fact of bicycling, but weather it is inattentive drivers or risk taking cyclists accidents do happen. What do you do? It may seem simple enough now, but when you are lying face down on the pavement you may not be thinking clearly so here are some simple steps you can remember for when/if, knock on wood, you get into an accident.
In terms of preventative measures though I would like to add a few things:
1. Wear a helmet. I don’t see enough people doing this. I know there are arguemts going either way, but when your head hits the pavement you are glad you have it.
2. Ride with traffic. Cars are a lot more likely not to hit you when you are doing what they expect. Riding against traffic makes people nervous and therefore more likely to do something stupid.
3. Use lights in the dark. This one is just common sense, but apparently some people can’t get it through their heads. Riding at night with dark cloths on makes you invisible past 10 feet.
I know I am preaching to the choir, but I hope someone takes something away from this.
Albany Bicycle Coalition 
I feel compelled to shout “Hallelujah!”
Almost every night I ride home I pass at least one guy who is not wearing a helmet, riding against traffic, and dressed like a ninja. For some reason, maybe I’m losing my mind, I laugh, sometimes out loud, at them.
I don’t think people know any better. I don’t think the people I pass every night read this, or any other bicycle blog. How do you get this kind of information to people who don’t consider themselves cyclists?
Informing citizens about bicycling is one of the main functions of the Coalition, and something I think we can do a lot better. That is the big question though. How do you get someone who doesn’t care about cycling informed about cycling? Short of chucking helmets at their heads until they put one on there are not many good options.