Living Car Free - Is cycling really that dangerous?

b. How many of those deaths were due to an accident evolving an automobile, in which the bicyclist was not at fault.

It's the Decepticons you have to look out for, the Autobots always give me plenty of passing room.

Yessss... and further, how many of the cycling deaths which involved an automobile, also involved a drunken cyclist, one without lights or reflectors, one riding the wrong way...etc?

I doubt very much that any significant percentage of the 697 were bicycle only. but even when you mix in cars, being sensible about risk factors, safety equipment and paying attention, can drastically reduce your chances of being killed.

Of the many accidents I have heard about from fellow cyclists, I am lead to believe that many cyclists were acting responsibly when hit. I am also surprised that many cyclists get hit and live to tell the tale... at least from my experience.

I am so reluctant to talk about statistics and the likelihood of accidents, largely because it is so easy to deceive with statistical analysis. I am reminded of the fact that during the Vietnam war, there were far more fatalities on the nation's highways than on the battleground. Flying in an airplane is statistically much safer than either driving or biking. That won't be of much comfort if you happen to be unlucky enough to be in an airplane taking a nosedive.

Still, I need to get to work. I can't fly to work. Driving is about as dangerous as cycling. So... I behave as responsibly as I can and hope for the best. If I do become one of the statistics, I will have to say [with my dying words] "That's life..."

Of the many accidents I have heard about from fellow cyclists, I am lead to believe that many cyclists were acting responsibly when hit. I am also surprised that many cyclists get hit and live to tell the tale... at least from my experience.
Well yes, but how many of the cyclists that you talk to on a regular basis ride like idiots? And we're only talking fatalities here.

I am so reluctant to talk about statistics and the likelihood of accidents, largely because it is so easy to deceive with statistical analysis. I am reminded of the fact that during the Vietnam war, there were far more fatalities on the nation's highways than on the battleground. Flying in an airplane is statistically much safer than either driving or biking. That won't be of much comfort if you happen to be unlucky enough to be in an airplane taking a nosedive.

Still, I need to get to work. I can't fly to work. Driving is about as dangerous as cycling. So... I behave as responsibly as I can and hope for the best. If I do become one of the statistics, I will have to say [with my dying words] "That's life..." That's life indeed, as i said earlier, ain't none of us getting out of here alive.

In order to really quantify whether or not cycling is more dangerous than driving, you need to first determine what percentage of cyclist miles are made by people who are cycling instead of driving. That would not include, for example, children who do not drive, and recreational roadies.

Then you would need to analyze various types of accidents. Pull out night riders with no lights, wrong way rider, light runners, intoxicated riders. The same factors would have to be applied to drivers. Fatalities where the driver was drunk would also need to be excluded.

The basic problem is that there is a much greater of variance with cyclists than with motorists with regard to habits.

I recently read a study (which I can't seem to find now) that was specific to the state of Florida in which the 60-something bicycle deaths that happened in 200x were listed with the details of the incident in a table. All but a handful (less than 10 if I remember right) were caused the cyclist riding at night with no light, riding on the sidewalk, or (the overwhelming majority) being drunk.

That said, I think it's a little bit healthy for us to realize that the bumper of a ford f-350 could be the last thing to go through our minds during the morning commute. Being reminded of my own mortality every time I feel the turbulence of a passing vehicle keeps me from taking the small things in life too seriously, and helps me take the important things more seriously. Suddenly the gossipy co-worker or the cat using the couch as a scratching post don't seem like such a big deal. When I get home from work or school the first thing I usually do is tell the wife I love her and giver her a peck on the cheek because it might be my last chance. (plus cycling does wonders for the libido :love:)

More people die in cars that any other form of transportation on the planet. Cycling has it's pros and cons and isn't without risk. If you pay attention, take proper safety precautions and follow the law, you should be fine.

I live and commute in NYC. It's definitely dangerous but so is walking down the streetin some areas here. I don't let fear keep me locked in my house nor do I let fear keep me from riding my bike.