Biking infrastructure that's separate from main roadways, on the order of what Holland and Denmark has, offers people that bike, a reduction in the potential for being hit by a motor vehicle when traveling the main lanes of streets and roads. A common consideration coming to mind to people debating about the possibility of beginning to use a bike to get around...for example, their neighborhood, what might likely be the potential of their being hit by a motor vehicle.
From Portland, as reported in the local weblog, 'bikeportland' is a story of an example of the kind riding more people are becoming interested in, and the seriousness of collisions that can occur in street infrastructure that doesn't adequately provide for vulnerable road user use. The story basically, is about a guy riding a bike and towing his child in a bike trailer, waiting at an intersection behind a couple cars ahead of him, for a red light to change. The trailer displays a blinkie, guy's wearing yellow reflective jacket...street they're on is what I believe to be, but am not sure of...is a fairly busy cross-street, crossing a major thoroughfare...time of day around 5pm.
The apparently infrequently occurring, but very alarming thing happens: a car approaching at low speed from behind father and son on bike and in trailer...collides with the back of the trailer, partially crushing the trailer. Fortunately...the child escapes the collision with minor injuries.
Link to story for anyone interested in reading it through:
http://bikeportland.org/2012/12/04/m...462971#respond
General location of the collision is within an older residential-business neighborhood about three miles from Downtown.
Tonight, Thursday the 6th...just checked the same thread for new comments. Here's another account of a car-bike/trailer collision, same general part of town:
http://bikeportland.org/2012/12/04/m...omment-3467227