Originally Posted by Helmet Head
I had a typical conversation yesterday, this time with my dentist, during a checkup...He said that he couldn't ride to work because he "would be killed" bythe time he got to the office...AGAIN, is the notion that it is inherently dangerous to ride a bicycle in motor traffic... it is the cyclist's own behavior that is the primary factor in determining how safe.
Yup, the cyclists behaviour is often the problem.
Check out how cyclists have died in this study of Coroner's Files for 1986-93 in BC at the bottom of this web page (Sec.VI. Appendix A)
http://www.helmets.org/bcstudy.htm
Still I always like to point out that in BC, commuter cyclists make up 2% of traffic (and according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association, transportational cyclists make up just 5% of all cyclists) yet all cyclists were involved in only 1% of traffic accidents.
I also like to point out here in BC there are about 45,000 car collisions each year, resulting in about 400 deaths. There are about 900 cyclist/car collisions resulting in about 5 deaths. Pedestrians are hit by cars 1700 times each year and about 60 pedestrians die. With cycling participation estimated from about 15 to 30% of BC's 4 million population, and roughly 5 cyclists, 8 motorists and 30 pedestrians dying per 900 collisions with automobiles, who has the biggest risk of dying? I guess part of the answer is how people cycle (or drive or walk).
But I think your dentist (a
doctor no less) is missing the obvious. What about the medical benefits of riding? What about the lack of hurting others in the event of a crash? How can he miss the obvious medical benefit from riding?
What kind of public health advocate is he?