erig007

https://www.unmc.edu/news.cfm?match=11993
https://www.publichealthreports.org/i...articleID=3020

FBinNY 

I don't dispute that there seem to be more distracted drivers on the roads today, and that the level of distraction is greater (IMO more of an issue).

However, part or all of the increase in cyclist deaths may be attributed to an increase of cyclists on urban and suburban roads. This isn't to say that distracted driving isn't a serious and worsening problem, but just to point out that large aggregate data don't always tell the whole story.

howsteepisit

Since the reports are based on police determining that driving with a "technological device" during their investigation, its also entirely possible that in the 2005 to 2010 police have become better/more diligent at determine that said distracted driving occurred at the time of the accidents.

Note: I did not read the referenced article in Public Health Reports, my opinion is based on the news release by the University.

genec

An increase in cyclists just means more opportunities for the distracted motorist to plow into one.

erig007

Yep that's what i thought too. One thing though is that the number of pedestrians increased as well. More pedestrians? Same effect but different causes?
Anyway, there is some interesting things in the link from the article or there about who, where and when is more impacted by that: gender, age, ethnicity, time of day, location
https://www.publichealthreports.org/i...articleID=3020

erig007

You guessed right that what they say in the report but they also say that it is unlikely that it impact the trend

howsteepisit

Thanks for posting the link to public Health reports. One thing to note, the one of the Author's conclusions is that among other solutions, is to separate motorized from non-motorized traffic. I read this as restricting bicycles to bike paths for "our own safety"

genec

When distracted motorists are whipping past me at 55 and 65 MPH, I don't see a separate bike path as a negative... except for the fact that it is likely to be longer and out of the way of the roads "built for cars."

howsteepisit

Oh I like bike paths in the right situation, but one size does not fit all, in all cases. I don't want to be banned from the roads because the roads are deemed unsafe, all I am noting. Probably being overly sensitive to the conclusion.

FBinNY 

You and I share the same concern about being pushed off roads "for our own safety". As long as the bicycle community continues to feed the myth that bicycling is dangerous, we'll be at risk of getting "protection". This is why, at every opportunity, I try to reinforce the idea that bicycling is safe.

no1mad 

I don't know if it so much as diligence as a requirement while filling out reports nowadays. More and more communities have been enacting/enforcing "don't text and drive" laws.

Case in point: I was driving one day last year when I got sideswiped by another vehicle. One of the first questions out of the LEO's mouth was "were you texting?"- which I was not. I pulled out the phone and brought up the messaging menu and showed him the time stamp for the last sent and read messages.*

*I don't have a problem showing time stamps, but if they want to read/view content, they had better have a warrant in hand.

I-Like-To-Bike

A perusal of the A&S threads with its continual and repetitive postings by "advocates" of fearmongoring, "cager" bashing, and accidents, incidents and close calls from around the world indicates you have a lot of opportunities

FBinNY 

Those in the cycling community who consider themselves and other cyclists death defying heroes won't listen, and I don't bother trying to change their perceptions. It's like religion, and I don't do conversions.

My concern is convincing non-cyclists, parents, and those in government that bicycling safe if done right, and shift emphasis from perceived danger to the "if done right" side of the equation.

I live in an area where parents are all Taxi drivers, taking their kids from place to place. My neighbor is an exception allowing her daughter to be independent and ride her bike to most after school activities (school is out of cycling range). I feel bad for them because mom gets all kinds of "how could you endanger...." comments.

Beyond the obvious concern for injury, I'm doubly concerned because if anything should happen, mom is likely to get undue blame rather than the compassion she'd need and deserve.

Consularrider

At a time when miles driven has been going down.

agent pombero

All the more reason to have a 3000+ lumen beamer lighting up the inside of the car cabin.

turbo1889

Bicycling on the road = not very dangerous.

Idiots driving high velocity, high mass, kinetic energy weapons around other innocent people and not respecting the awesome and frightful lethal capabilities of the land missile they are piloting and not even bothering to look where they are going (always know your target and beyond, always point the muzzle only in a safe direction, always treat it like a loaded leathal weapon) = extremely dangerous.

Lets quite blaming the victim for daring to be in the way of the bullets fired by other criminally negligent individuals (these ones are bigger then normal and have wheels).

I-Like-To-Bike

A new standard for fear mongering rhetoric? It will be hard to top.

agent pombero

Denying there isn't a fear to be had will be hard to top!

I-Like-To-Bike

I have no doubt some people have all sorts of exaggerated fears, often fed by wild eyed fear mongoring rhetoric. Some might even call spewing such foolish rhetoric about bicycling risk "bicycling advocacy"

agent pombero

Who are you to decide what qualifies as bicycle advocacy?

turbo1889

Do the math as to the projectile kinetic energy of both a bullet fired from a gun and a car at speed. Also check the stats as to what kills and injures more people each year due to idiots being stupid with them and not treating them with respect as the dangerous machines they are guns or cars.

Quite blaming the victim for the negligence of the perp. with a dangerous lethal machine. Cycling is NOT dangerous, aggressive vicious idiots being allowed to drive cars without respect for the lives and health of others without check is what is dangerous.

I-Like-To-Bike

It still is a free country for anyone to write, talk, post or whine like a fool and call it "bicycling advocacy"; and some people do.

agent pombero

So where do your contributions in threads like this fit in?

agent pombero

I agree.

dynodonn 

Looking at the years involved, I can see some possibly skewed numbers, in 2005 the economy is booming with driving at it's all time peak. In 2010, the economy is in the grips of the worst recession in decades, with more people taking up walking and riding their bikes more, and driving their automobiles less.