[diffluere]

The MSF course doesn't really teach you how to ride in traffic. For example, you know how cars at stoplights slowly edge up? It took me a few tries before I could slowly edge up too. And I was scared to make left-hand turns that require slowing/stopping in the middle of the road for a while (this is how I have to turn into my driveway, no turn lane).

For me, having another bike around helped a lot. I guess it made me feel less like every car was going to run me over. I think the first time I ever took my bike out on the 'real' road vs. little roads in my neighborhood, a semi made a left hand turn all the way across the road. Myself and another car had to stop, and (it was a four-lane road) then I had to drive past the semi. I thought for sure he was going to switch lanes and squish me!

After about 2 months of riding I feel like my skills are enough to get me out of MOST situations. I can tell who is going to pull out in front of me, I stay far behind cars coming up on stops, etc. I still avoid certain roads around town, especially during the rush hours. But I got over the scared 'everyone is about to kill me' feeling, and now I just think that 'some people are going to kill me' so I watch out for those people.