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Old 05-10-11 | 05:45 PM
  #67  
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cooker
Prefers Cicero
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,860
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From: Toronto

Bikes: 1984 Trek 520; 2007 Bike Friday NWT; misc others

Originally Posted by PeddlePhile
It
51,000 bicyclists were injured in traffic in 2009 (Up sharply from 43,000 in 2007)
  • One-seventh of the cyclists killed were between 5 and 15 years old.
  • Average age of a bicyclist killed on US roads: 41
  • Average age of a bicyclist injured on US roads: 31
  • Bicyclists 15 and under killed: 93. Injured: 13,000
  • Bicyclists 16 to 34 killed: 168. Injured 20,000
  • Bicyclists 35 to 54 killed: 270. Injured 13,000
  • Bicyclists 55 and older killed: 179. Injured 6,000
  • Alcohol involvement was reported in 37% of 2008 deaths.
  • Nearly one fourth (23%) of the cyclists killed were drunk. (BAC over .08 g.dl)
  • Fatal crashes typically were urban (69%) and not at intersections (64%).

It is critical to not that this is 2009 data and at the time, the number of Bicycle Road related injuries was taking a VERY sharp increase...just as I had stated.
No doubt, we will see that trend continued in the 2010 data when it is released.

So, while you may argue, you have been proven incorrect by indisputable evidence..

However, if you still feel safe on the roads with your bicycle, by all means you should continue to take those chances.
After all, it is ultimately your hide motorists will devour, not mine.

Personally, I will make the smart choice and I will steer clear of the roads until such time as bike paths clear of the hazards of motorists are made available.

By the way...have any members of this forum ever died while riding their bicycle on the roads? How about sidewalks?

The 2010 data will be ready soon at which time there will be even more overwhelming evidence that riding on the roads is as dangerous as I have said. I will be watching for it's release and post it as soon as it is available.

All the Best !
Be careful out there.
The data you are citing probably includes cyclists killed on the sidewalk and the road, so it is not informative.

Cyclists in this forum have died. I don't know how many were on the sidewalk or road. The one I am most aware of was killed on a rural highway but I doubt there was a sidewalk he could have been using.

You can't infer much from how many of each are on google. First of all, as mentioned some of those accidents occurred on highways where there was no sidewalk as an alternative and the only option for cyclists was the shoulder. Secondly you can't compare the gross numbers - you need to know the base rate or base mileage of each mode to calculate the relative risk. Way more people die crossing the street than skydiving so I guess walking is more is more dangerous than jumping out of a plane?
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