Very well-thought out and balanced, Tiff. It is unfortunate that many of us believe (and not unjustly) that just because we should be able to be seen (because of our best efforts) that we will be able to be seen. I know I have been guilty of this kind of cavalier attitude.

This kind of paternalistic, protectivist attitude I don't need. Yes, if you're riding (or walking) on the road with cars, you could get hit. If there is not affordable wheelchair transportation available without calling several days ahead, the alternative is to sit at home waiting like a good little cripple for someone to charitably take us where we need to go. Without our chairs. Nuts to that. If there's a sidewalk I can get to, I'll use it. Otherwise, me and my chair will be on the road. I'll be watching for cars and exercising the same kind of reasonable caution as any pedestrian forced to walk in the street should, but I won't be imprisoned at home to avoid it, either. Don't want to get in the road, don't get in the road, but don't try to "take care of" the rest of us, either. If I get hit after taking common-sense precautions, then I get hit--my freedom is worth it.

I was nearly hit while unloading out of my rampvan onto the sidewalk in front of my parents house. Two AB pedestrians were hit one a 14 yr old boy by the same driver in a hit-and-run accident. My ramp van died a painful death as it protected me. The dad of the 14 yr old shoved his child out of the way behind my van and his suv and the dad was thrown under my front bumper which saved him (according to police). The police were amazed that the 14 yr old and I weren't hurt and the dad only had bruises from being hit. A army sergeant who lived across the street and served with my deployed father chased down the car and found it and the police arrested him.