Bicycling is much more dangerous in the southern states
03-07-14, 05:42 PM
#1
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Bicycling is much more dangerous in the southern states
Some pretty harrowing accounts in this article from The Atlantic, and the last line is absolutely pathetic. Also some info showing a lack of bicycling infrastructure to be a contributing factor. To my cycling friends in the southern states: Be careful out there.
Braving the Deep, Deadly South on a Bicycle
Cyclists are 10 times likelier to be killed in South Carolina than in Oregon. What makes southern roads so treacherous?
Braving the Deep, Deadly South on a Bicycle
Cyclists are 10 times likelier to be killed in South Carolina than in Oregon. What makes southern roads so treacherous?
03-07-14, 06:14 PM
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Agree 100%
There are a few reasons. Southern states -- SC in particular, bikes are universally thought to be unworthy of the road. To ride the road on one is affronting a deity and giving the finger to everyone. They also embrace the Floridification of their infrastructure. i.e.; 4 lane/strip mall/45 mph stretches for miles on end . . .
When I was in Charleston SC a few weeks ago, the paper had an article on why so many peds and cyclists were getting hurt or dying at one particular intersection(Crosstown?), and the local gov official interviewed made it clear that its peds responsibility to stay out of the way of cars. If you dont get across the street safely, you have only yourself to blame. Scary stuff!!
Theres a whole lot more, but for the sake of brevity, and not to offend any riders from SC, I'll mercifully end it here 
There are a few reasons. Southern states -- SC in particular, bikes are universally thought to be unworthy of the road. To ride the road on one is affronting a deity and giving the finger to everyone. They also embrace the Floridification of their infrastructure. i.e.; 4 lane/strip mall/45 mph stretches for miles on end . . .
When I was in Charleston SC a few weeks ago, the paper had an article on why so many peds and cyclists were getting hurt or dying at one particular intersection(Crosstown?), and the local gov official interviewed made it clear that its peds responsibility to stay out of the way of cars. If you dont get across the street safely, you have only yourself to blame. Scary stuff!!
Theres a whole lot more, but for the sake of brevity, and not to offend any riders from SC, I'll mercifully end it here
03-07-14, 08:00 PM
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It's a cultural thing. The same culture that leads the obesity epidemic is on display here.
Many decades ago, I met a retired school teacher on the NorCal coast. We were both touring and got to chatting over dinner. He had retired about a decade earlier and promptly took off on a bike tour; when I met him he said he only stops at home to recharge before heading out again. His stories of the south were disquieting. He had people drive-by door him (open the passenger door as they passed) and cut his spokes while he was shopping. I'm not sure why bicycles are able to create such anger in some people, but the people who are susceptible to such derangement seem to be over-represented in the south, in my experience.
Originally Posted by Aaron Reuben, The Atlantic
They still have a long road to ride—particularly true if South Carolina is any example. Last month the Secretary of Transportation of South Carolina missed an important bicycle and pedestrian planners group meeting, one of only two held each year. Though the planners met as scheduled at 10 in the morning, they had to do without their most prominent decision-maker—because he had just been arrested for drunk driving.
03-07-14, 08:37 PM
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What makes southern roads so treacherous?
I can't speak for 5 southern states ranked worse than GA but I can tell you what I've observed here and it's simple. The drivers are just that bad compared to other regions. Poor judgment, poor skills, and the best way I can think to put it, emotional driving.
I can't speak for 5 southern states ranked worse than GA but I can tell you what I've observed here and it's simple. The drivers are just that bad compared to other regions. Poor judgment, poor skills, and the best way I can think to put it, emotional driving.
03-07-14, 09:02 PM
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Brennan and wphamilton, thanks for the good read.
Here's my reasons:
A) WAY more months to ride, so an increased chance for "interaction".
B) Up here in New York, we have actual shoulders on the roads. We have them because of snow-plowing operations.
I had never considered item "B", until I was traveling to NC. I thought "oh, riding down there is going to be great. Year-round cycling, tons of local riders...."
Then I experienced the roads. Crap. 55 mph roads, with ZERO shoulder, and cross-streets. Up here, I can run hundreds, no, THOUSANDS of 55 mph roads, and feel OK on most of them. Down there.... it's kind of scary.
Here's my reasons:
A) WAY more months to ride, so an increased chance for "interaction".
B) Up here in New York, we have actual shoulders on the roads. We have them because of snow-plowing operations.
I had never considered item "B", until I was traveling to NC. I thought "oh, riding down there is going to be great. Year-round cycling, tons of local riders...."
Then I experienced the roads. Crap. 55 mph roads, with ZERO shoulder, and cross-streets. Up here, I can run hundreds, no, THOUSANDS of 55 mph roads, and feel OK on most of them. Down there.... it's kind of scary.
03-07-14, 10:46 PM
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Brennan and wphamilton, thanks for the good read.
Here's my reasons:
A) WAY more months to ride, so an increased chance for "interaction".
B) Up here in New York, we have actual shoulders on the roads. We have them because of snow-plowing operations.
I had never considered item "B", until I was traveling to NC. I thought "oh, riding down there is going to be great. Year-round cycling, tons of local riders...."
Then I experienced the roads. Crap. 55 mph roads, with ZERO shoulder, and cross-streets. Up here, I can run hundreds, no, THOUSANDS of 55 mph roads, and feel OK on most of them. Down there.... it's kind of scary.
Here's my reasons:
A) WAY more months to ride, so an increased chance for "interaction".
B) Up here in New York, we have actual shoulders on the roads. We have them because of snow-plowing operations.
I had never considered item "B", until I was traveling to NC. I thought "oh, riding down there is going to be great. Year-round cycling, tons of local riders...."
Then I experienced the roads. Crap. 55 mph roads, with ZERO shoulder, and cross-streets. Up here, I can run hundreds, no, THOUSANDS of 55 mph roads, and feel OK on most of them. Down there.... it's kind of scary.
03-07-14, 11:00 PM
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I think "emotional driving" hits the nail on the head. I did a daily commute of about 16 miles RT in State #47 ...and lasted a year. When I started driving the commute, I didn't feel much safer: drivers were still inattentive, lawless, and downright hostile, even to other road users in cars. Improvements in infrastructure and enforcement might help everybody, particularly if it keeps the individuals who are likely to harass and bully other road users away from the wheel.
03-10-14, 07:38 AM
#9
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In OR, WA and CA, we have just as many wonderful days to ride as the south (at least for those who don't mind riding in a bit of rain and those who don't live in the mountains). Outside of the cities, most of the roads we are riding on are shoulderless 55 mph limit county roadways, just like the south. Yet, we have lower cyclist mortality than the south. I don't think the weather and roads explain the difference.
03-10-14, 06:04 PM
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03-11-14, 08:46 AM
#11
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Agree 100%
There are a few reasons. Southern states -- SC in particular, bikes are universally thought to be unworthy of the road. To ride the road on one is affronting a deity and giving the finger to everyone. They also embrace the Floridification of their infrastructure. i.e.; 4 lane/strip mall/45 mph stretches for miles on end . . .
When I was in Charleston SC a few weeks ago, the paper had an article on why so many peds and cyclists were getting hurt or dying at one particular intersection(Crosstown?), and the local gov official interviewed made it clear that its peds responsibility to stay out of the way of cars. If you dont get across the street safely, you have only yourself to blame. Scary stuff!! Theres a whole lot more, but for the sake of brevity, and not to offend any riders from SC, I'll mercifully end it here
There are a few reasons. Southern states -- SC in particular, bikes are universally thought to be unworthy of the road. To ride the road on one is affronting a deity and giving the finger to everyone. They also embrace the Floridification of their infrastructure. i.e.; 4 lane/strip mall/45 mph stretches for miles on end . . .
When I was in Charleston SC a few weeks ago, the paper had an article on why so many peds and cyclists were getting hurt or dying at one particular intersection(Crosstown?), and the local gov official interviewed made it clear that its peds responsibility to stay out of the way of cars. If you dont get across the street safely, you have only yourself to blame. Scary stuff!!
Theres a whole lot more, but for the sake of brevity, and not to offend any riders from SC, I'll mercifully end it here
03-11-14, 01:38 PM
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Yup. Some of my favorite roads around here are 65-70mph farm-to-market roads where they tend to be painting gravel and grass white when they restripe.
03-11-14, 01:45 PM
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Since I moved to Florida 10 years ago cycling has gotten better and better. Most new roads are built with 3-foot bike lanes. I thought cycling in Pa was much worse as far as safety goes on the street.
03-15-14, 06:57 PM
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I think what you said here, applies to any mid-size to large city regardless of what state is bad. Even in Portland(Oregon). Because people are always in rush in the cities to get things done, yesterday.
03-15-14, 08:42 PM
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I would agree. Northern people cen be pretty mean too. I think anywhere there is rural areas, certain elements are going to react unfavorably to cyclists. This is what I found in PA. In Florida, there were lots of mean people but the lanes sort of kept my segregated from them. I loved the lanes up and down A1A. etc. FL posed other challenges I didnt have in PA. No little gang hoodrats trying take your bike was one of them . . .
While I do agree that it is worse in the South East U.S. as whole(Maryland and Virginia are part of the southern states) on is worse to ride in.
I think what you said here, applies to any mid-size to large city regardless of what state is bad. Even in Portland(Oregon). Because people are always in rush in the cities to get things done, yesterday.
I think what you said here, applies to any mid-size to large city regardless of what state is bad. Even in Portland(Oregon). Because people are always in rush in the cities to get things done, yesterday.
Auto entitlement is a generational thing that unfortunately has a while to go before it mercifully leaves us.
Also, when I go back up north, I feel humanity is imploding inward
Everything is so fast paced and everyone packed in so tightly, it's very uncomfortable to me..::EDIT::.
Chris 516, did you ever live in FL? A BF poster with a very similar name bought my Peugeot in FL. Not you? maybe?
Last edited by -=(8)=-; 03-15-14 at 08:47 PM.
03-15-14, 10:05 PM
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I have lived on both side. I think the comparison is like this:
The north has many aggressive drivers. Drive defensively and you should be fine.
The south has dumb and inept drivers. Drive defensively and pray you will be fine.
This is not to blanket blame all drivers in the South, but in my experience: very few people in the south know or care to use these things called turn signals; many drivers slow down to change lane; they will cut in front of you, and slowly too, even though you are about to hit them the next second;and they probably saw you coming too and they did it anyway; most drivers use high beam on in all conditions at night, good luck driving in front of them.
In other words, drivers in the south just don't know what they are doing on the road. I silent applaud every driver I come across that seems intelligent and capable of handling themselves. and yes, for some reason, they get mad easily.
The north has many aggressive drivers. Drive defensively and you should be fine.
The south has dumb and inept drivers. Drive defensively and pray you will be fine.
This is not to blanket blame all drivers in the South, but in my experience: very few people in the south know or care to use these things called turn signals; many drivers slow down to change lane; they will cut in front of you, and slowly too, even though you are about to hit them the next second;and they probably saw you coming too and they did it anyway; most drivers use high beam on in all conditions at night, good luck driving in front of them.
In other words, drivers in the south just don't know what they are doing on the road. I silent applaud every driver I come across that seems intelligent and capable of handling themselves. and yes, for some reason, they get mad easily.
03-18-14, 07:02 PM
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I live in central FL; I've been in 6 accidents (2 of which my fault, but one I was 15 years old, so yea; I'm 24 now). 3 of were between 2004-2010. The other 3 were all since this January (all 3 being their fault); one of those was by the a school (side-swipe).
There's a 3-foot pass rule in my state, but I'm lucky if I ever get 6 inches by 99% of the vehicles that pass me, including cops and emergency vehicles.
There's a 3-foot pass rule in my state, but I'm lucky if I ever get 6 inches by 99% of the vehicles that pass me, including cops and emergency vehicles.
Last edited by Bovice; 03-18-14 at 07:18 PM.
03-20-14, 08:30 PM
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Ridden thousands of miles in Oregon, hundreds in Alabama. Drivers are aggressive and fast in Oregon, polite and careful in Alabama.
Now I am talking farm country here - I dont ride in town because so many of the roads in Huntsville, AL, have no shoulder and carry tons of 55mph traffic. Riding there one would be an idiot asking for "conflict." In Oregon, I will paint with a broad brush - there is a huge percentage of a-holes on the road.
And as to some of the above statements about the South in general - backward idiots are present in every state. Every single one.
Now I am talking farm country here - I dont ride in town because so many of the roads in Huntsville, AL, have no shoulder and carry tons of 55mph traffic. Riding there one would be an idiot asking for "conflict." In Oregon, I will paint with a broad brush - there is a huge percentage of a-holes on the road.
And as to some of the above statements about the South in general - backward idiots are present in every state. Every single one.
03-22-14, 01:09 AM
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This report also included WALKING and was defined as anyone who was walking. The report didn't provide separate rates or risks for cycling individually but rather lumped it together with walking (all pedestrians).
Take this study with a big grain of salt.
Take this study with a big grain of salt.
03-23-14, 12:55 AM
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The Alliance for Biking and Walking has a Bicycling and Walking in the United States Benchmarking Report--2012, and with it you can compare statistics on all the states.
John
John
03-27-14, 06:31 PM
#24
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I lived in South Carolina for the past 16 years and Maryland prior to that. I will take South Carolina's redneck drivers over Maryland's distracted soccer mom drivers anytime. Drivers in Maryland always seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere and will cut you off. South Carolina's drivers are more laid back and give me room more often.