Mountain biking has also grown in popularity since 1991, as has BMX, trick fixed-gear riding, and a whole slew of other riskier forms of cycling. I take a spill fairly often on my mountain bike. I've never fallen on my road bike, and use my road bike 10 times the mileage.

I agree that more attention should be placed on safe riding skills...and safe riding practices, such as not taking a ski lift to the top of a mountain in the Cascades so you can ride down. Aside from making you a lazy a**, it also gives you no friggin' respect for the mountain, but I digress.