It's not if you get hit a car, but when.
#101
20+mph Commuter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Greenville. SC USA
Posts: 7,517
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
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My first ride on a 2-wheeler ended with a collision into the rear tire of a moving van that blocked my path at an intersection. I was a kid riding on the sidewalk. The movers were very nice men who all jumped out and made sure the bike and I were OK. I have hit at least 3 other cars over the past 40+ years. One hit me but didn't even knock me down.
So I can't argue with the OP. I didn't even make it five full minutes on my first bike ride.
So I can't argue with the OP. I didn't even make it five full minutes on my first bike ride.
#102
No one carries the DogBoy
I've been hit by a car. I was crossing at a bike path crossing and the car to my right was going to fast. I stopped, they stopped, then a minivan nailed me from the left. I actually injured the van more than it injured me, but I consider myself very lucky. His insurance company was very happy to pay the $150 to buy me new bar tape, a mirror, new fenders and new cycling gloves. The adjuster was afriad of the extent of my injuries since I did about $3,500 to the van...I trashed his fender, took off is rearview mirror and dented the door panel. Physically I had some bruising on my hip and some scratches on my hands. Most of the close calls I've had have been when not riding in traffic. I agree that cycling is not the same as adult commuter cycling and would bet that adult commuter cycling is less risky than "all" cycling. Still, just because I've been hit doesn't mean I think it is a given that you will be hit if you ride. Be aware of the danger and mitigate it to the extent you can. Beyond that, people make mistakes and accidents happen. It won't keep me off my bike, and it won't prevent me from riding on roads.
Last edited by DogBoy; 06-16-14 at 08:13 AM.
#103
Senior Member
I can't vouch for how accurate this is but I found a site that apparently tries to assess the danger of bicycling relative to other activities with statistics that take into account the fact that a lot more people drive than cycle.
Is Cycling Dangerous? -- The Risk of Bicycle Use -- Accidents, Fatalities, Injuries, and Benefits
[TABLE="width: 300, align: center"]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 4"]Fatalities per Million Exposure Hours[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Skydiving[/TD]
[TD]128.71[/TD]
[TD]Snowmobiling[/TD]
[TD].88[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]General Flying[/TD]
[TD]15.58[/TD]
[TD]Motoring[/TD]
[TD].47[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Motorcycling[/TD]
[TD]8.80[/TD]
[TD]Water skiing[/TD]
[TD].28[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Scuba Diving[/TD]
[TD]1.98[/TD]
[TD]Bicycling[/TD]
[TD].26[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Living[/TD]
[TD]1.53[/TD]
[TD]Airline Flying[/TD]
[TD].15[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Swimming[/TD]
[TD]1.07[/TD]
[TD]Hunting[/TD]
[TD].08[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Data compiled by Failure Analysis Associates, Inc.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
This puts the risk of cycling right down there with flying.
Is Cycling Dangerous? -- The Risk of Bicycle Use -- Accidents, Fatalities, Injuries, and Benefits
[TABLE="width: 300, align: center"]
[TR]
[TH="colspan: 4"]Fatalities per Million Exposure Hours[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Skydiving[/TD]
[TD]128.71[/TD]
[TD]Snowmobiling[/TD]
[TD].88[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]General Flying[/TD]
[TD]15.58[/TD]
[TD]Motoring[/TD]
[TD].47[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Motorcycling[/TD]
[TD]8.80[/TD]
[TD]Water skiing[/TD]
[TD].28[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Scuba Diving[/TD]
[TD]1.98[/TD]
[TD]Bicycling[/TD]
[TD].26[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Living[/TD]
[TD]1.53[/TD]
[TD]Airline Flying[/TD]
[TD].15[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Swimming[/TD]
[TD]1.07[/TD]
[TD]Hunting[/TD]
[TD].08[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 4"]Data compiled by Failure Analysis Associates, Inc.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
This puts the risk of cycling right down there with flying.
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Bikeforumuser0019
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06-01-15 09:38 AM