Buddy, if you're deaf, don't fret. Most people driving cars - even though they can hear - are oblivious to any sight or sound unless it's shaped like a car.

Take it from me, I ride a bicycle 10 miles to work without the aid of a motor and return at night in the dark on roads with no street lights and in some places very little shoulder to ride on.

I always ride the same way I would drive, with the traffic and never on a sidewalk. You can get to where you are going without sound, because all the traffic signals are all based on sight, except maybe an emergency vehicle, for which they won't care too much if you are on the side of the road and going under 20mph.

You can also live in fear that you will get hit by a car, but then you might as well stay inside your house forever. I can hear the traffic approaching behind me, and can tell when it is a car, truck, or motorcycle before I see it, and can tell if they are coming in fast or not, but I probably can't get out of their way fast enough if I knew they would hit me from behind by hearing alone.

Just invest in a cycling helmet with a rear-view mirror and that is probably as safe as you will get in being defensive in your riding.