Recumbent - how many accidents

less than a month after i bought my first recumbent, a car hit me when i was commuting home and fractured my pelvis. i had right of way and this guy just didn't see me. i've been commuting for 2 and a half years (nyc and phoenix area) and never had an accident like this.

so my question is, are accidents more frequent on recumbents? thanks in advance,

adam

I do not think there is any good data on this, particularly since there are confounding factors such as typical age of recumbent riders vs. diamond frame riders, more road than off road use, there is a wide variety of types of recumbents, and I do not think any routinely recorded accident data specifies the type of bike.

That said, I am extra cautious at intersectionson on a recumbent. Getting a good look both ways down the intersecting street happens a few feet "later" because there is more bike in front of me. You are that many feet further into an intersection before your eyes can see down the cross street both ways. I also usually have a blinking light at the very front of the recumbent that is visible from the sides and forwards of the bike.

Each incident is somewhat different for me, but most contributing factor is making yourself to be seen or not.

I'm not only talking about your clothing or bike that allow you to be seen, your position and motion on the road could make a big difference whether or not a motorist would see you.

I have a bell on every single one of my bikes, and most of the time when I'm riding in urban areas, my loud voice has avoided me from many unattantive motorists or pedestrians collisions.

I've only had one real close encounter while on my recumbent. I got left-hooked by a driver who had overshot the Denny's 100 yards down the street and was so stressed by missing his grand-slam breakfast that he didn't see me zipping down the street at a high speed as he tried to go into the next available driveway. Fortunately by application of shoe rubber to the road as well as braking, I managed to avoid hitting his front fender by about a foot.

I think I'm very visible from the back, but count on my own vision in the front.

http://www.pointhappy.com/gcf/BacchettaSm.jpg

I don't think stats are kept on upright vs bent accident rates. My only info is anecdotal. So far, by far most of my accidents were on my upright even though the lion's share of my miles is on bents. Once, I was straddling my bike at a red light, in the middle of the lane, in a 30 mph zone, IN THE CROSSWALK. Oh, and my rear flasher was on. I was rear-ended, and the driver said he didn't see me. Other accidents with my upright included several right crosses and once when a driver accelerated out of a parking space to hit me. None of them saw me even though I was at or above their eye level.

Height does not equal visibility.

I've had DRAMATICALLY fewer close calls, nudges, etc on my bent than my road bike. On my upright, cars are trying to constantly squeeze me, etc. I am given a VERY wide berth on the bent. I think it was just yo0ur time my friend.

I tend to avoid heavy traffic like the plague whether on an upright or bent. I fly a good sized Stars and Stripes on a fiberglass pole on the seatback whenever I anticipate significant road traffic.
It would be impossible to collect meaninful data on bent vs. upright car/bike accidents. I try to drive as defensively as possibe, knowing full well the number of cell phone or otherwise spaced out drivers out ther.
At least up here in ND we don't seem to have any drivers who go out of their way to run you off the road like I hear happens in other states.

Adam, may you heal well and rapidly with your next serious accident coming shortly after your hundredth birthday.

Most of my miles are on a very low trike without a flag or anything, and have had the same experience as aikigreg. Though logic would suggest otherwise, drivers seem to see me better then when I'm up high on a DF and certainly tend to give additional road room. My only bent accidents have been minor and my own fault for going too fast or trying to turn too fast.

I have no reason to suspect the risk of serious injury is increased by riding bent. Even if it were, I would still not be interested in moving back to a DF anything closes to full time.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o84/dogsridewith/000_5169.jpg
(temporary Reeces skirts demonstrate a place to gain side and rearwardly projected area--in the interest of obtaining "slow moving vehicle emblem (real safety triangle) equivalence". Dark shirt in combination with narrow (8 inch) seat indicate importance of bright jacket or vest with this rig.)

Cordura nylon orange gear by coloradochaps.com. Forearm "chap" has three adjustabe Velcro straps. Seven inch "bicep band" has two straps. Rear pack holds front and rear tubular tires and pump.(mounting system is a loop of butyl inner tube). Boom bag has room for water-bottle-battery, sundries.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o84/dogsridewith/000_5169.jpg
(temporary Reeces skirts demonstrate a place to gain side and rearwardly projected area...

Why do Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups taste different than the full-size ones? Is it a chocolate to peanut butter ratio issue?

As for me I don't think it's so much the bike. It's called an accident cause it just happened. Some people might be better able to avoid an accident but on the whole it's the moment, the place and the bike may have very little if anything to do with it. After 38 years of riding DF and Bent, I've had a few accidents, some bad- broken bones, road rash, one head injury and a few have been down and up and let's ride on.
I'd rather take the chance of a possible accident rather then vegetate.