Kertrek

I'm wondering because a couple people I know have suffered crippling injuries on their motorcycles. One even lost a leg, and they were both following the rules. I know a couple people who have been hit while riding a bicycle, but they were on the sidewalk and weren't paying attention to blind driveways. Is riding a bike in the street statistically much safer than being on a motorcycle? (Aside from accidents being relatively low speed)?

kickstart

It's the same only different. Like with most things, its mostly our own choices that determine the actual risk level.

FBinNY 

Overall, bicycling is safer, but to an extent it's an apples and oranges comparison.

Motorcycles operate at general traffic speeds, so the hazards related to being passed from behind are reduced, compare to bicycles. OTOH, higher speed on a heavier vehicle introduces greater risks on their own.

IMO- safety is more about the driver than the vehicles. Regardless of what they're on or in, some drivers seem to have multiple accidents and close calls, and others can go for miles, years, or entire careers with few close calls and no accidents.

Ride smart, take control of your destiny, manage what you can, and accept what you can't, and you should be OK.

gecho

I think any statistics you might find would be meaningless. There are many things you can do on a bike to increase your safety, predictability and visibility being the biggest two. The crash statistics for bicycles are likely skewed by the large number of people engaging in unsafe behavior. Which isn't surprising considering I've seen few safety guides that cover the less intuitive methods to stay safe on the road.

I have to wonder how many of the "he swerved in front of me" crashes are the result of a cyclist weaving in and out of gaps in a line of parked cars instead of maintaining a consistent line outside the door zone. Any time I reach the end of a line of cars I can hear the engines gunning behind me.

Kertrek

I found a cyclists handbook released by the state of Oregon. Should be worth looking at.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...LNLJsF2x6maKPA

Cyclosaurus

Two of the biggest causes of bike accidents are drunk cyclists and salmoning. If you don't do those, you are in the low-risk pool.

gpburdell

Don't forget the ninjas.

I've seen a guy near my home a couple times at near dusk riding with gray dress pants, black shirt, black bike, dark helmet, and no lights or reflectors.

gecho

Much better than the ones I've encountered. Could use a little more concerning sight lines of drivers at narrow cross streets where trees and parked vehicles make it more difficult to see curb hugging cyclists. Might also be good to include acknowledgement that most drivers blow pass the sidewalk at stop signs as a reason to ride further to the left.

spare_wheel

Those invisible ninjas I see all the time really annoy me too.

Chris516

I have ridden a motorcycle(Honda 650 then Suzuki GS 750), only as a passenger. So I definitely feel safer on my (road)racing bike, than I did on a motorcycle.

Cyclists' and motorcyclists' have to deal with some of the same things. Things like motorists' treating both as if they are ghosts'. Either by almost hitting them, or hitting them outright.

The difference between the two. Is that a motorcycle weighs' more than a bicycle.

At the same time, if a motorcycle has a side-impact collision with a vehicle, at speed. There isn't much chance of survival of the motorcyclist. The same if a motorcyclist is the one that is hit from the side.

If a cyclist has a side-impact collision with a vehicle, there is still a possibility of survival. Because, Not every cyclist can go at speed, and at speed on varying speed limits. So, They can still be passed without the motorist breaking the speed limit. But if a vehicle hits a cyclist even from the side even gently. The cyclist has less of a chance of survival.

I have been in bike accidents on major arteries, and on side streets, in the business district, and in residential areas. All of those when I was on my bike.

Still, I feel that riding a motorcycle, outright. Is far more dangerous. Than riding a bicycle on the street. Because, With the increase in speed, is the increase in the lack of control. Some motorcycles can go 160mph on the highway. When they crash, if they haven't crashed with another vehicle. The motorcycle and motorcyclist(s) will individually skid along from the point of the crash. Depending on the speed, the inertia from the speed also transferred to the motorcyclist, the weight of the motorcycle and motorcyclist, individually, and the friction on the road surface. Will determine how far the skid.

Dave Cutter

I don't think there is enough data to compile any real stats. Without real data.... it is just guessing. However.... I can confidently assure you that every few automobile accidents happen in living rooms. So couch riding is still tops in accident prevention.

ambient

I'm not sure about overall safety but, for me, I feel safer on a motorcycle.
I"ve been riding motorcycles for 50+ years and bicycles for 20. My experience is that you are much more in control of your own destiny on a motorcycle than on a bicycle. Motorcycles provide the ability to place yourself better in relationship to threats. You have the ability to flow with traffic or accelerate away from uncomfortable situations. Motorcycles usually have two decent mirrors so it is possible to keep better track of your surroundings. If you choose you will have much better protective clothing while riding a motorcycle. You are more visible and the noise of the motorcycle (hopefully not too much noise) allows people to be aware of your presence. I believe a person is at much greater risk while learning how to ride a motorcycle than while learning how to ride a bicycle but at some point that reverses.
Anecdotally, I have lost 8 friends to bicycle accidents over the years and one to a motorcycle accident, another 2 friends were paralyzed while racing motorcycles. Two of the friends that were killed on bicycles were lifelong motorcycle guys. Almost all these deaths were caused by being run over from behind. While a couple of the bicyclist were run over at night most of them were killed during the day.
All that being said bicycling will keep you healthier than motorcycling. Bicycling also makes the motorcycle experience better.

vol

Maybe the advantage of motorcycles over bicycles is its loud noise, and if a vehicle hits you, they can't claim that they thought they hit a deer, or drag your body for miles only to discover you under the vehicle when they get home.

gpburdell

No, not to start a flame fest but the loud pipes stuff is largely self-indulgent B.S. -- primary threats to motorcyclists are in in front, the exact opposite direction than the pipes are pointing. The left turner ahead of the biker isn't going to hear anything but the most obnoxiously loud pipes, the kind that causes motorcycles to be banned from subdivisions and parks. I "get" the appeal of a non-stock exhaust, it sounds good and it's fun (*), but be honest about the reasons and don't trot out an claim that doesn't stand up to logic.

Oh the hit-a-motorcyclist-and-drag-them thing already happens. See Driver charged after hitting, dragging motorcycle

(*) over 20+ years of motorcycle ownership I've had loud and quiet bikes and ridden with many people of all brands and styles.

B. Carfree

I guess we all agree that there aren't any meaningful numbers out there for cycling safety so we'll have to go with personal experience and anecdotes to liven this thread up.

I'm amazed at the number of friends you have who have been killed on bikes. I've lived my life surrounded by friends who ride quite a bit and no one I know personally has been killed while riding. I've had over a dozen friends killed while in cars, but none of my friends has had more than road rash/bone cracks from bike wrecks. A much smaller collection of friends and relatives of mine ride motorcycles regularly, but none of them has had any incidents either (in spite of my wife giving my drug-addicted brother-in-law her extra motorcycle in the hopes that he would meet his demise).

Rollfast

Doesn't the word SAFELY tend to answer the question?

vol

I have the impression (which could be wrong) that motorcycle accidents often result in paralysis from spinal injuries, although some also die, while cyclists just die, or suffer broken limbs, fractured bones, head trauma, etc. Not saying no cyclists become paralyzed after accidents, but seems less?

CliffordK

There are both risks and benefits of each.

A motorcycle can travel at "traffic speeds" in the middle of the lane, and thus at less risk of being rear-ended. They are also required to have better lights for visibility. Being larger and in the middle of the lane, they are probably also somewhat more visible, and less easily ignored.

There still is some risk of being sideswiped by inattentive drivers, or T-Boning drivers that pull out in front of them.

The biggest difference, however, is that wrecks are usually far worse on a motorcycle due to higher speeds and a heavier vehicle.

How does one count insignificant "wrecks" on a bicycle? Tipping over, getting a wheel stuck in a crack, whatever, as well as those group ride accidents.

vol

Also motorcyclists are less likely attacked by street criminals or lawless teens in bad neighborhood.

CB HI

On motorcycles, paralysis from spinal injuries is often caused by sissy bars (bar breaks passenger's back) or skidding on the back on the ground digs into the spinal column (that happened to my cousin when she was 19).

At the speeds most cyclist travel, we only get road rash.

zonatandem

Have bicycled over 300,000 (3 hundred thousand) miles.
I ride the road, not the side'WALK'.
BTW, still ride 100 miles a week on the roads and am 82 years old.

CB HI

From riding both motorcycles and bicycling, I considers motorcycle riding slightly more dangerous for a skilled rider.

Both types of riders should learn how to perform the best possible emergency stop.

The greatest danger for both is not being seen. For motorcyclists, this danger is amplified because of their higher speed most of the time. So, by my experience, riding a motorcycle is a higher risk because of left hooks and pull outs occurring while the motorcyclists is traveling faster than a bicyclists would.

CB HI

And some think it is a big deal for Kerry to be riding at 71.

molten

Aren't the odds higher on a motorcycle that one will have a motor vehicle driven into a cyclist's ankle?
I rarely hear of such bicyclists injuries received from motor-vehicles.

vol

“Motorcycle fatalities are not only our number one source of organs,” said one surgeon. “They are also the highest-quality source of organs, because donors are usually young, healthy people with no other traumatic injuries to the body, except to the head.” Motorcycle Helmets and Donor Organs