Daily Commute

One of the stupidest anti-cycling comment from motorists is that we cyclists should get insurance just like they do. The biggest problem with that argument is that it ignores that insurance costs and requirements are tied to risk. The reason cyclists aren't required to have liability insurance is that we present very little financial risk to others, especially when compared to motorists.

I'm covered by my homeowner's insurance for liability when riding. You know how much extra I pay for that coverage? Zippo. Nada. Zero. Why? Do you think my insurance company loves cyclists? Of course not. It's because cycling creates such a miniscule risk to others that the additional cost to insure a homeowner for cycling liability is practically zero.

If motorists want to pay less insurance, they can choose a transportation method that's less risky to others.

Given the minimal risk we pose and given that most of us are probably covered by homeowners' or renters' policies, we are massively overinsured compared to motorists.

(Thread started partially in reaction to comments in the article in this thread started by Randya)

Dchiefransom

Well, I should ask my agent, but I think the deductible on my homeowner's is $1,000, so I'd be walking if my bike is stolen or wrecked.

Blue Order

True. if you have homeowner's or renter's insurance, you're covered for liability.

Cyclists should also be aware that unless they own a car, they're not covered for uninsured/underinsured motorsists. And nless they're covered by health insurance, they have no medical coverage.

bragi

Do motorists actually say that bicyclists should have the equivalent of auto insurance? Which ones? In what context? I've heard motorists utter a lot of stupid, mean, even homicidal things about bicyclists in a variety of arenas, but I've never heard that one before. I've been told, more than once, to "Get the f*ck out of the road, assh*le!" but never, ever, "Get bicyclists' insurance, dumbsh*t!"

CB HI

If you did read the entire Portland Tribune: Wanted More Butts on Bikes article and following comments, then you now know the answer.

Just one example, the forums have other examples.

Daily Commute

Partly for these reasons, I wish insurance companies did issue bike insurance comperable to auto insurance but priced according to the risk we actually pose. I also don't want someone making a claim on my homeowner's insurance for a dented door.

I-Like-To-Bike

If you read Letters to the Editor to local newspapers you can read all sorts of idiotic ideas on all sorts of subjects that are scribbled by all sorts of ignorant JackAsses. So what? Only another JackAss, unaware that there are many clueless persons in possession of crayons, would take those letters seriously.

I-Like-To-Bike

My guess is that a cyclist's risk of personal injury costs, if not property damage costs, caused by an uninsured motorist, is at least as high as a motorist's; and probability of theft (though not the total cost) is likely higher than either a motorist's car or homeowner's property due to theft.

Better think twice before making your wishes known to your insurance company.

Slow Train

But you are probably covered from the first dollar for liability. For example - if you run a red light on your $500 bike and smash it into the side of a car causing $500 damage to it and totaling your bike then:

Your are out the $500 for your bike but the $500 damage to the car, for which you are liable, is paid, completely, by your insurance company.

CB HI

Similar to reading your post.

I-Like-To-Bike

It's all in the mind of the reader, Jack!

trackhub

Yeah, I've had is said (and yelled) to me a few times. I've taken up answering with this: "You should write to your state representative. That's what I do". If you do this, I suspect you'll get the same response I get: A blank stare for several seconds, possibly followed by the F-bomb, and a rapid walkaway.

I-Like-To-Bike

Clueless letters to the editors have about the same credibility as "advice" yelled by strangers at strangers. It might stir a response but hardly is worth considering as the product of intelligent thought. I can only question the good sense of anyone who takes such stuff seriously.

trackhub

Oh, I don't take them seriously. I just give them a response they're definitely not expecting.

On occasion, there will be letters to the editors of both Boston papers. (Three papers, if you want to count the Daily Metro, the free paper that's available in all subway stations and train stations) Such letters run in the April-May time frame, and all read the same things: "They should just ride their bicycles in the playground, where they belong". "They should have to pay insurance, like everyone else". Etc, Etc. You know already.

And the band plays on...

Mr. Underbridge

People in general don't understand insurance. You're no less liable on a bike than a car - it's just that, as pointed out, the general risk on a bike to being sued is less simply because there's less chance of causing massive damage. It's possible this has something to do with the fact that the vehicle being piloted is about 200 times less massive than a car. Some have mentioned homeowners' policies; I'm sure that's an option for many people. For others, they are in effect self-insuring, in that they'll have to pay out of pocket should they, say, run into a stopped car while distracted by the scenery.

The difference is it would be more challenging to do something on a bike that would result in, say, a $10,000 judgement against the cyclist. That said, my father was once flattened by an idiot cyclist doing 15mph on the sidewalk in a business district, and I'm sure that guy would have been better off with cyclist's insurance (if his homeowners' didn't cover it).

So there's my answer - if you're going to ride against traffic and speed on the sidewalk, get insurance.

CB HI

In some states a cyclist "is less liable" for personal damages, such as in no-fault states. For Hawaii, the cyclist can cause the accident with a motorist, but the motorist insurance is required to cover the injuries to both the motorist, passengers and cyclist.