Commuting - Dangers

I perceive the biggest danger in cycling for transportation to be falling. Not cars.

Don't get me wrong. Cars are dangerous. Ride intelligently. But...

But my crash injuries have all been due to falls. Once from a belligerant pedestrian, the other from railroad tracks. The ped sent me straight to the ER via ambulance. I now wear a permanent mustache thanks to him (hides the scar.) He deliberately attacked me while riding. The railroad tracks were lucky: I fell with minor injuries; could have been much worse.

Your enemy is falling first, cars second. Keep your eye on the road. You have only two wheels.

(One day I resumed my normal route after some time off. A new pothole almost got me, but I was able to go around it in time.)

Originally posted by Pete Clark
I perceive the biggest danger in cycling for transportation to be falling. Not cars.

Ah, but what causes falls?

Originally posted by Allister
Ah, but what causes falls?

In the case of my last six falls and my last three near-misses - my own stupidity. :mad:

Surely the biggest danger is riding and falling into the path of cars and getting promptly run over!

i disagree.

the likelihood of a fall resulting in major injury or death is low - (excluding racing) i have had about 1 fall every 2 years while cycling with injuries like bruised bones, scraped knees, broken finger, etc.

sure, some day i could have a more serious fall where i break my collarbone or land on my head or run into a tree/wall... but i could also some day have a collision with a car (i've had near misses and a car run over my front wheel after i stopped as well as a slid across the hood of a left-turner -- both over 10 years ago when i was a new cyclist)

but the consequences of a collision with a car are SO much higher AND much less under my control (i.e. riding on ice or fast in a corner i can "control" but a car running a stop sign or turning left in ma path i can't)

you can take some pretty bad high-speed falls and hit some major objects but it's still relatively hard to kill yourself... invlove a car with mass and momentum and it's easy

oh, for perspective i thought i would add that i have had some bad crashes although almost all from off-road technical riding or racing.

i had 4 substantial crashes in 2002 (all off-road trail riding), breaking 2 fingers, spraining one and bruising/scraping my shoulder pretty bad, plus other cuts and bruises.

in '99 i had a major MTB accident - while going about 20mph i flew off a jump, flew 15ft in the air and landed head first, shattering my helmet and then sliding 15 feet on my face -- broke 2 teeth, tore my lip almost off and broke my nose. NOTE: all repaired - my nose looks different but not better or worse

in winter 2002 i fell on ice spraining my wrist.

i'd choose any of the above over a car collision ANY day!

Originally posted by Chris L


In the case of my last six falls and my last three near-misses - my own stupidity. :mad:

About the same for me.

Are we sensing a pattern? ;)

The likelihood of being killed on a bicycle (especially for an experienced, careful cyclist) is lower than for driving a car.

But as for bicyling, in the year 2000, while there were only 690 bicyclists killed, there were about 51,000 injuries reported. That's a hell of a lot of injuries.

(I thought about a poll: have you been injured on your bike?Have you been killed? ;) )

I ride my bike to work over many kinds of roads, 28 miles round trip, day and night, in Atlanta rush hour traffic. The chances of my being injured in a fall are hundreds of times greater than the chances of being killed by a car. So that's where I put my focus.

But I'm talking about preventative medicine, not riding in fear.

My only crash was regrettably my fault. I was going down a hill leading into downtown wayzata, and i spun out on ice. With no injuries, I ended up sliding under an Escalade, as my bike went down the hill without me, hitting a snowbank and not hurting anyone. I must admit, I can think a whole lot of situations where I could be killed by a car, but its low on chance. I've spun out another time after I was fishtailed by a left turner, I did a 180-reverse and landed it! :D Another time I almost went airborne off the hood of a caddy that stopped in a crosswalk on a redlight. The soccer mom in the Caddy actually followed me for about half an hour apoligizing. I consider the odds of dieing on my bike low though, and if i'm gonna die it might as well be on a bike, eh?

Originally posted by Pete Clark
But as for bicyling, in the year 2000, while there were only 690 bicyclists killed, there were about 51,000 injuries reported. That's a hell of a lot of injuries.

Injuries can be such a vague term when you really think about it. I mean, I've never broken a bone in my life, but I've got a few scars from crashes - none which kept me off the bike for any significant length of time.

Originally posted by Chris L


Injuries can be such a vague term when you really think about it. I mean, I've never broken a bone in my life, but I've got a few scars from crashes - none which kept me off the bike for any significant length of time.

If you're anything like me I suspect few if any of them were reported to a hospital or the police. I've had my fair share of knocks and scrapes, but only once have I felt the need to visit a hospital as a result. My guess is that the actual injury rate is an order of magnitude higher than what is reported.

But hey, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

Originally posted by Allister



But hey, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

or leaves you with a LOT of road rash...

In 2 years commuting I have had 3 falls 2 were due to brain dead drivers the 3 rd well it was all me baby! the first involved a lady deciding that I was going slow enough for her to make turn in front of me when i was less than 6 feet away. She got a nicely dented door to explain and i got some road rash and had to buy a new helmet. the second was mine I was riding on th ice and fell resulting in some bruises and hurt pride. the last was some one backing out of their drive into me resulting in a bent crank, another new helmet, and working all day with greasy pant legs from the chain.


Incidently do you guys replace your helmet after ever spill involving your head hitting something? I do!

Originally posted by Pete Clark

I ride my bike to work over many kinds of roads, 28 miles round trip, day and night, in Atlanta rush hour traffic. The chances of my being injured in a fall are hundreds of times greater than the chances of being killed by a car. So that's where I put my focus.



This got me thinking. My morning commute is fairly early before most car commuters are up and about. However the ones that are about are inclined to drive a lot faster as there is no traffic to slow them down.

Do you feel safer during the rush hour when everything is clogged up (apart from us cyclists:D ) or when the road is quieter and things are moving faster?

I am mixed about that. When I miss traffic, making the couple unprotected left turns is definately easier. Also the road is much quieter. But on a few roads, yes people drive much faster.

I think overall I prefer the off-hours for the commute. But then again I always ride in the peak hours to keep with my schedule.

I just can't win :p

There are good and bad things about a peak-hour ride. I think the key is being able to adjust to each of them. For the most part, traffic is more predictable in the peak-hour cramped conditions, but you need to be wary for one idiot trying to do something that they just won't have the space to do. That's a problem because they could literally end up anywhere (hence my argument about bikepaths/footpaths offering no protection at all from being hit by a car).

When I'm stuck at the office later than usual, I find myself missing the traffic. There's nothing more satisfying than sailing past stop and go traffic.

But those are the idiots who are more likely to pull into the bikelane to pass a long line of cars on the right. The last few times it's happened I've caught up to them and used a line I saw on these forums: "Excuse me. Did you know that what you just did is illegal and dangerous?"

Originally posted by Hants Commuter
My morning commute is fairly early before most car commuters are up and about. However the ones that are about are inclined to drive a lot faster as there is no traffic to slow them down.

Do you feel safer during the rush hour when everything is clogged up (apart from us cyclists:D ) or when the road is quieter and things are moving faster?
Overall, I like quiet streets best. But there are many factors in improving your safety on your route:

1. Can motorists plot your position both far away and close up?
2. How fast are they driving?
3. Are motorists used to seeing you on this route?
4. How many business entrances/exits intersect your route?
5. What time of day/night do you ride?
6. Are you familiar with this route and it's hazards?
7. Can you see new road hazards in time to avoid them?
8. Can motorists avoid you as you avoid road hazards?
9. Are there likely to be intoxicated drivers?
10. Do you expect the unexpected?

Cyclists just have to think more than motorists, even though it should be the other way around.

Originally posted by Pete Clark

Overall, I like quiet streets best. But there are many factors in improving your safety on your route:

1. Can motorists plot your position both far away and close up?

Could be difficult there a few dips and turns that they could 'lose' me in. But I'm showing 2 strong back lights (1 flashing) and a reflective vest.


2. How fast are they driving?

The Speed limit is 40, but I'm sure some go faster


3. Are motorists used to seeing you on this route?

Yes do it almost every day, but my time varies by about half an hour


4. How many business entrances/exits intersect your route?

None - its semi rural, fields to one side houses to the other


5. What time of day/night do you ride?

In the morning 6:30 till 7:30


6. Are you familiar with this route and it's hazards?

I know the potholes/drain covers intimately


7. Can you see new road hazards in time to avoid them?

Usually


8. Can motorists avoid you as you avoid road hazards?

Unless there is something coming the other way then yes. The problem is there speed of closure from behind.


9. Are there likely to be intoxicated drivers?

No


10. Do you expect the unexpected?

Always