Originally Posted by
Pete Fagerlin
The chart is a summary of NHTSA information. Their data collection methods are described in the underlying documents.
For example, comparing 2004 to 2005:
.1% increase in vehicle miles traveled
2.0% increase in registered vehicles
.9% population increase
Persons involved in motor vehicle crashes 2004 to 2005:
Bicyclists 41,000 (2004) to 45,000 (2005) +9.8%
4,000 more accidents yet only 5 additional fatalities?
Given the reporting methods and the difficulty in capturing data like "their exposure time to interaction with motor vehicle traffic" I would be interested to know how anyone can make a definitive statement one way or another about bicycle safety trends.
In this case, I tend to agree with you... for one reason off road cycling has certainly become a large new trend... accidents there are not usually with motor vehicles (but can be).
The number of cyclists off road may bring the total bike picture up, but what is the number of cyclists facing motor vehicle traffic... awful hard to quantify.