Advocacy & Safety - Bicycling Accidents / Car Accidents

It is really sad to hear when a cyclist is killed or injured in an accident. There seems to be an inordinate number of them reported recently on the Advocacy and Safety forum. One thing we must all remember, is that "safe arrival" is not guaranteed in cars either. I pulled this stat off the Net. In sheer overall numbers, many more are killed in cars than on bicycles. Although I don't have the statistics, per passenger mile, cars are probably safer by a wide margin.

Number of Americans killed in automobile accidents in 2001: 42,116

It is really sad to hear when a cyclist is killed or injured in an accident. There seems to be an inordinate number of them reported recently on the Advocacy and Safety forum.
I suspect because there are a few posters obsessed with reporting every such accident they can find by using some web crawler or Google. I don't know what the point of these posts are except to provide nourishment for the ghouls who want to gloat over the victims' alleged mistakes and provide their brand of safety lessons.

I suspect because there are a few posters obsessed with reporting every such accident they can find by using some web crawler or Google. I don't know what the point of these posts are except to provide nourishment for the ghouls who want to gloat over the victims' alleged mistakes and provide their brand of safety lessons.


Most of these reports are pretty sketchy on details so it is really hard even to come up with any brand of safety lessons save speculative ones. The discussion then degenerates into expressing symathy for the victims and their families (which at least is motivated by compassion) or expressions of vengeance on the motor vehicle operator involved.

I believe one can be interested in cycling misadventures without being a ghoul. "Lessons learned" are only part of it. I believe occasional reminders, even graphic ones, of the potential mortality of our chosen activity are beneficial.

There is lots of info out there that shows bicycling is not any more dangerous than many other things.

Remember, it's not what you do so much as how you do it.

We can always learn from accidents (or collisions) but mostly we learn that people often make silly mistakes.

It's always a good idea to keep things in perspective and not to forget all kinds of things happen to all kinds of people doing all kinds of things.

More people die from falls around the house, from ride on lawn mowers and from choking on ball point pens than die riding bicycles.

A couple of pages

http://neptune.spacebears.com/opine/helmets.html

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm

Here's a good article by Mighk Wilson:
http://www.floridabicycle.org/rights/freedomfromfear.html

There is lots of info out there that shows bicycling is not any more dangerous than many other things.

Remember, it's not what you do so much as how you do it.

We can always learn from accidents (or collisions) but mostly we learn that people often make silly mistakes.

It's always a good idea to keep things in perspective and not to forget all kinds of things happen to all kinds of people doing all kinds of things.

More people die from falls around the house, from ride on lawn mowers and from choking on ball point pens than die riding bicycles.

A couple of pages



http://neptune.spacebears.com/opine/helmets.html

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm


I agree totally--let's keep things in perspective. For instance, approx. 300 people a year here in FL die each year from lightning. Far more from heart disease. I don't know any numbers for heat-related instances, but I know it happens. Bike riding is inherently dangerous, simply because of the unknown factors. We can't do anything about these unknown factors except to be aware at all times. And for some of you--please don't take things written here so seriously! It's a forum--other peoples ideas.

I agree totally--let's keep things in perspective. For instance, approx. 300 people a year here in FL die each year from lightning. Far more from heart disease. I don't know any numbers for heat-related instances, but I know it happens. Bike riding is inherently dangerous, simply because of the unknown factors. We can't do anything about these unknown factors except to be aware at all times. And for some of you--please don't take things written here so seriously! It's a forum--other peoples ideas.

I don't think bike riding is any more inherently dangerous than anything else and I also think everyone forgets about the inherent benefits from riding a bike.

If more rode, there would be less sick people.

The bike is a safe means of transport because most accidents happen at low speed, which increases the survivability for the participants. The chance of being killed in a car per hour of use is about 3 times higher than for a bike. Since car average speeds are 3 or 4 times that of a bicycle, there is not much difference in the danger per mile travelled.

I qualified my statement, but I do agree that cycling is inherently beneficial.

I don't know what the point of these posts are except to provide nourishment for the ghouls who want to gloat over the victims' alleged mistakes and provide their brand of safety lessons.
Every crash I've had on the bike has taught me something important about how to avoid it next time.