Did you do the test first?
Go do it...I will wait...
Okay, so according to Mr. Jalopy, "This phenomenon is known as "change blindness" - only a tiny fraction of all the information going into your brain enters your consciousness. People often fail to see a change in their surroundings because their attention is elsewhere.
Even stranger, if you are concentrating on something, you can become blind to other events that you would normally notice. This "inattention blindness" is possibly the reason why motorists collide with cyclists.
Just as it is important for road users to keep an eye out for cyclists, cyclists must also take steps to ensure they are seen by motorists."
According to me, this is important to forward to both cycling and non cycling friends because it is a reminder to both that we need to be open minded, perceptive and (I hate this expression)expect the unexpected.
I am a little ticked off today because I had yet another friend (this is the 3rd since July) have an accident with a car yesterday. Specifically (and this has happened 2 of the 3 times), a driver of a truck was passing a cyclist, buzzed them (perhaps to make a point, I don't know) and the rider was hit by the passenger's side mirror. One was fine immediately afterwards - she was knocked off her bike, scratched up and generally shaken up. My other friend hit yesterday is going to be okay, but he did have broken ribs and some other issues. He did require transport to the hospital. Not fun...but everything will be fine...
In an attempt to be generous I am assuming that both drivers were unaware of the width of their car and the necessary room to safely pass the cyclists. I am unable to confirm this assumption because in all 3 cases the drivers bolted and were never to be seen again.
This doesn't mean that all cyclists are saints. I have ridden with and chastised many an idiot cyclist about creating risk for drivers and other riders.
My point today, is take the aforementioned Awareness test. Pass it on to friends and family and start a dialogue. We are seeing more and more new cyclists on the road given gas prices and the new greening of American choices. I love it and am 100% supportive of it. I love new riders and I want everyone to know how fantastic and healthy it is to ride a bike. However, we need to make sure that we are getting safety information out in our community to both cyclists and drivers.
I went out with the first group and as we went by a neighbor's ranch about 2 miles out I realized that their little dogs were out...and they were running towards the line...the first 5 or so bikes handled it pretty much okay, but then I looked up and saw the big giant black dog come barrelling down the drive...I said "I am going to U and keep the dogs on the other side of the road" called the U audibly and with hand gesture...no one behind me and I turn...I was past the center line of the road almost done with my turn and I hear this girl scream from the other side of the road...she is veering hard left (for no apparent reason) and coming right at me...there is no one on her right at all...and she is gripping the middle of her handlebars instead of over her brakes...I speed up to tuck into the other side...and she just keeps coming right at me! I get to the other side of the road, unclip and have my legs out and here she comes...she doesn't 
No...she just t-bones my back fork, buries her handlebars in my wheel, rips off my saddlebag and throws her weight forward...I reach back and keep her from falling...because I am thinking "no way I am going to fall down for this..." She yanks out her handlebars further damaging my spokes and is super pissy...I am trying to be cool and be understanding that this is a very new rider and she just kind of panicked, but everyone is okay...and surely my bike isn't too bad...because her bike was fine...she pedals off with the group...and I have to wait for SAG because my wheel is jacked, my gears are stuck and my bike is screwed (I didn't have my camera and then I was too irritated when I got back to the house to document)...but the workout continued and the group practiced their transitions...so that was a good thing...
