I have not disregarded reality. Do not alter my words.
I said in many ways it is safer to cycle here than the US or Britian. I did not mention Europe where there is an actual cycling culture and infrastructure, and folks have a different attitude towards bikes. The fact remains that in car-centric countries like the US and Britain (and Canada and Australia to a lesser but very real extent) anti-cycling sentiment, and the dehumanization of cyclists by drivers is on the rise
USA cycle casualties show similarly high numbers
What is most concerning is an alarmingly high incidence of cyclists in the US and UK, reporting harassment, and threatening behavior where drivers purposely cause accidents or chase and try to scare riders. In the US a favorite trick is to roll coal, or blanket riders in black diesel smoke
I have friends in Florida who say this happens to them a few times a year.
In the UK, people on mopeds stalk cyclists to steal their bikes. Again I have friends in various cities in the UK that report similar activities near them. I have one friend who was chased.
So yes i get angry when folk who have no idea what they talking about make false claims about the danger. Cycling comes with inherent risks, they are not necessarily any worse here.
if subs like r/cycling are any indicator a huge number of riders are harassed or put in danger in "civilised" nations. NONE of these things happen commonly in Thailand.