“Giving up eating for fear of choking” is an ancient Chinese proverb and is clearly demonstrated here. Just as eating is a net benefit to health (in spite of the risk of choking), in spite of it's inherent risks, to ride a bike is beneficial for health, not detrimental to health.

In BC, we have many dams made to produce hydro-electric power and a study was done on the perceived peoples fears of these dams failing and causing flooding of the valleys they are located in. They found the further away from the dam, the greater the fear from flooding from the dam failing. It's not that the risk was any greater, in fact it was a bigger risk closer to the dam, it's just that those who live in the shadow of the dam accepted the risk because it was a part of their every day life.

It's kind of the same with driving and cycling. If someone feels they have no choice but to drive, they accept the risk. If they feel cycling is not a priority, it's an unacceptable risk regardless of whether the risk is the same or not.

To ride a bike is "different" and it's subject to much social judgement that other more "normal" things are not.

I see greater danger in not cycling.