Originally Posted by
John C. Ratliff
howsteepisit,
I keep harping on infrastructure because it is the best control for bicycling injuries, as evidenced in the graph I presented from the Bicycling and Walking Benchmark 2012 Report. This is why European countries have lower fatality rates that in the USA.
Concerning the frame design, it has a lot to do with fall dynamics. Take a look at this photo:
The woman to the left is starting off on an upright bike. If something goes wrong, she would probably fall to her left, first on her foot, then her leg, then her rear, followed by her side and shoulder. This is actually the dynamics of a Parachute Landing Fall (PLF) which is the best way to fall. This is also why we start kids out on an upright frame. I'll discuss more on fall dynamics later.
John
ofcouse infrastructure is not causing that, the lack of cars is
there is only ONE reason people are focused on safety that much; fear of cars! ( i could fill a whole new thread just about that..)
ive quickly looked over that site but i couldnt see infrastructure as the main thing, yes i helps, yes it safer, yes its pretty, yes i want em, but it not what make dutch cycling safer, because noone has enough room to put those paths EVERYWHERE
but ill play your game; the actual riding position, and getting on/off is very much the same, and the dutch bikes have absolute terrible handling, steering and braking power, and i still cannot understand why some thing they are great, they look great with pretty girls on them, but thats where it ends
"if something goes wrong" well what on earth could or would go wrong on a 10meter wide cycling path in hong kong (?) IF anythign would go wrong, the people with a 'decent' bike would be able to steer/brake or whatever to avoid that thing thats going wrong, on them great 'upriders' youd just slam into it, depending on what that is....
even the term, fall dynamics, has a sound of 'you shouldnt be doing this'
CMON ITS RIDING A DAMN BIKE, STOP OVERDOING IT