Originally Posted by
Tabor
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If you take their optimistic estimate of 21 Billion bicycle miles traveled and 1,000 cyclists died. That is 4.76 deaths per 100 million bicycle miles traveled. Compare that with 1.36 deaths per 100 million car miles traveled in 2007 (
NHTSA).
That is actually 3.5x more likely to die per mile on a bicycle in 1993 compared to in a car in 2007. I don't like the numbers any more than you do, but there they are. I wish we had more up to date numbers (deaths are up to date, but no estimate on mileage for bicycles). The rate is probably lower now, if you believe that annual mileage hasn't decreased since 1993, which is probably a reasonable thing to think.
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I don't know why anyone would find this that shocking. A great deal of money, research, and public education has gone into increasing the likelihood that people involved in a car crash will survive with minimal injuries.
What do cyclists get? A piece of styrofoam to wear on their heads.
I'm not complaining. We just need to understand we are riding on the streets using a vehicle that offers us no protection from collisions at all and we should act accordingly.