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03-14-20 | 02:25 PM

#12

Clyde1820

Early-onset OldFartitis

Joined: May 2014

Posts: 2,152

Likes: 748

From: USA

Bikes: 1996 Trek 970 ZX Single Track 2x11

Quote:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/healt...ess/index.html

The headline says,"Biking to work appears more dangerous than other commuting options, study finds"

But quoting the article it could (and should) say,"...Compared with all other commuters, (bike commuters) showed a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease like heart attacks and stroke, lower risk of first cancer diagnosis and lower risk of death overall."

I'm okay with an article pointing out the on-the-road risks of an activity, in comparison to other modes of travel.

If an authoritative and all-inclusive study were ever attempted that considered ALL of the short- and long-term pros and cons of a given mode of travel as compared to others ... well, I'd say: color me surprised.

Takes more cardio and physical activity to run versus riding a bike. Takes more cardio and physical activity riding a bike as compared to driving a car. So, short-term comparative benefits are clear, along with the long-term ones. At least, insofar as being physical versus more-sedentary is concerned. At the cost of increased risks of getting struck, the difference in probability of crippling/deadly injury being sustained if one does get struck on a bike as compared to driving a car.

Doesn't strike me as a negative thing, to focus on the on-road, at-the-moment travel risks in an article. It is just that: a bit more likely that one might sustain very bad injuries on a given road if struck with little protection as compared to much, and probably more likely that one might not be seen until it's too late if the visual space one takes up on a bike (versus in a car) makes one harder to see.

One of the reasons I don't ride a skateboard, or those puny powered scooters that seem to prevalent these days, let alone on roadways.

JMO

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