I've been an airborne cyclist. My front brakes jammed when I tried to stop at a stop sign at the bottom of a hill on a bike path where it crossed the street. I landed in front of a stopped car. The woman got out and was a great help to me. She called 911 and kept demanding that I keep my eyes open. "I'm a nurse! Don't you be closing your eyes!" she kept shouting into my face. She kept me from falling unconscious which would have been very dangerous! She may have saved me from some very bad consequences!
I ride on busy streets all the time. I ride erect and know everything that is going on. Those guys velodroming with their heads down are nuts.