caloso

All things considered, it's pretty damn safe.

dhiltonp

Here are some calculations I did. Of course, it's just based on statistics.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=#post14373638

jputnam

The answer depends on what you're worried about -- HOW you die, or WHEN you die.

Peer-reviewed public health research shows bicycle commuters have about 40% LOWER *all cause* premature mortality than motor commuters. That "all cause" part is important. Comparing only the accidental death rate assumes everything else stays the same, but it doesn't. Bicycle commuting dramatically lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes, many cancers, depression, and so on.

The risk of *accidental* death is somewhat higher for cyclists, but the other risk reductions are at least an order of magnitude greater.

This has been confirmed in multiple studies on multiple continents across decades of research.

If you could distill bicycle commuting into a painful injection that had to be given every month and cost a thousand dollars a dose, you'd be filthy rich. It really is that good for you.

buzzman

As someone who rides pretty much every day in all sorts of circumstances and has done so for 4 decades I never make statements like the one quoted above.

For one thing as a generalization it's more than likely false and as specifically applied to any single rider or driver is unprovable. Those kinds of statements are a pablum to instill a false sense of security.

What keeps you safe on a bike is largely under your own control but there are unpredictable risks that can be managed to a degree but certainly not 100%. Knowing what the risks are, learning how to prepare for them and remaining alert and vigilant while riding makes bicycling quite safe but still bad stuff can happen that is out of your control- but that's pretty much how life is anyway.

cehowardGS

I put bicycle more dangerous than riding a motorcycle. Why? On motorcycles, sensible riders have on full safety gear. On the bicycle, even the sensible riders are only protected by a helmet.. Not good.

To put my take in perspective, I am very, very timid, in fact, super timid. With that said, I haven't been on my motorcycle this year. Been commuting 5 days a week for the last 9 months.. Love it..

chefisaac

well said buzz!

chefisaac

It is crazy here with motorcycles. People do not need, by law, to wear helmets. I just dont get that.

cehowardGS

If you noticed I said "sensible riders" wear safety gear. It is plain that everybody isn't sensible, not just in NJ, that's global!

enigmaT120

One of the things I did glean out of the mish-mash of data on the DOT web site was that motorcycling is more dangerous than bicycling. I try to measure everything by the chances of dying, per mile traveled. I still like to ride my motorcycle though.

cehowardGS

Motorcycle riding is high on my list. I have had over 4 or 5 100mph+ crashes, been airborne at over 100 mph, and each time I survive without serious injury. Why? Because it wasn't my time, and the help of the full safety gear that I wear on the street and racetrack.

On the bicycle, with cars going pass me at 40mph +, my mind thinks of the damage of just one contact with 3000+ lbs of steel hitting and rollong over my frail body. IMO, survival would be nill. That is why I put bicycling way more dangerous than motorcycle riding..

Here is my motorcycle gear, and this is for street and track.. I vary in the summer on the street with two peice mesh jack, and leather pants. BTW, I have survived several motorcycle crashes on the street too. All the result of always wearing full safety gear. Sheesh, sometimes I think about putting my motorcycle gear on to ride the bicycle!!

my gear..

https://www.cehoward.net/suity38.jpg

buzzman

While this might be a legitimate means of assessing risk as a statistic for an armchair analysis, in practical application I wouldn't trust this to assess my risk while actually riding my bike. In that case, risk, for me, would be evaluated on specific given circumstances. I fail to see how an awareness of that kind of statistical evidence impacts my individual safety as I weave through NYC traffic or ride down a traffic free dirt road in the country.

What I believe impacts my safety in those two situations is my awareness of potential dangers, capacity to cope with them and being prepared for the unexpected on both counts.

Reassurances based on per mile traveled like that may offer some consolation when traveling as a passenger on a commercial airline where you have basically 0 control over your fate once you've purchased your ticket and boarded the plane. The same is not true for bicycling.

AdamDZ

People get hit by cars when walking or even standing on a sidewalk. People die in car crashes. People die in some many ways. If your number comes up it won't matter what you ride (if you believe that kind of mambo jambo...).

no1mad 

You don't even have to be outside to get hit by a car. How many stories have you seen about someone plowing through the wall of a building- usually either mechanical failure or operator error??

bragi

No, really, bicycling is objectively no more dangerous than driving and a little safer than walking in urban areas. It's also a lot safer than motorcycling and flying small private planes. I'm not making this stuff up:

https://cyclehelmets.org/papers/c2014.pdf

https://www.walk21.com/papers/Chu.pdf

https://www.bicyclinglife.com/SafetyS...SafetyQuiz.htm

Myosmith

The most important piece of safety equipment is UNDER your helmet. Be alert, anticipate, ride at a pace appropriate for conditions, observe proper etiquette and follow the law, etc. While anyone can be involved in an accident, your chances of a collision go up exponentially when you treat city streets as your own private training course, riding like you were fighting for the lead in the Tour de France, blowing through intersections, weaving between cars, never signalling your intentions, and generally being a knob. Share the road goes both ways. A few months back I was in my car on a crowded Minneapolis street where traffic had slowed to a crawl three lanes wide. A cyclist riding in the drops blew by between the lanes, cut in front of the car a few lengths ahead of me and made a left turn through slow moving but oncoming traffic onto a side street. There were a few honking horns and raised fingers. All I could think was "Wow, what an (idiot)".

locolobo13 

One problem I have with bicycle stats is how do you collect them? Especially injuries or fatalities per mile or hour cycled. I can look out my downtown office window and see at least a hundred bicyclists that never registered with any survey.

Artkansas 

I've read that your bed is the most likely place for you to die. That doesn't seem to scare most people from climbing in though.

rumrunn6

you can get killed playing mini golf. 'nuff said?

Artkansas 

Yeah, once a girlfriend and I were driving along a parkway in San Diego. We got passed by a car that I would guess was doing 90. They went over the crest of the hill.

A little past the crest I saw the car again, stopped still in the center divider.

That evening I heard that both occupants had died. A couple of days later the news said that authorities were still trying to figure out who those people were.

deeth82

I am in absolute awe at your collection, Sir.

1996 Litespeed Classic
1988 Centurion Expert Ironman
1989 Centurion Master Ironman
1986 Schwinn Prelude(Beater)
1986 Raleigh Grand Prix(Beater2)
1985 Raleigh Prestige
1985 Raleigh Competition
1979 Raleigh Competition GS-1

2007 Suzuki GSX R1K (commuter) https://www.cehoward.net/pretty.jpg
2006 Honda CBR 600rr (racer) https://www.cehoward.net/630-8.jpg
My Warm Up https://www.cehoward.net/stclock.wmv / https://www.cehoward.net/situps1.AVI
72,Old,Dirty,&Fast

chasm54

Sure, but statistical sampling is very robust. Accurate estimates can be made from samples that seem small to the non-statistician. Cycling is very safe. In the UK, which is far from the safest European country as far as cycling is concerned, almost thirty million miles are cycled for every fatality. One fatality for every thirty million miles. ​If people aren't reassured by those sort of odds, all I can say is that their anxiety is overwhelming their reason.

LeeG

biking is unsafe, falling off is the most likely part.

locolobo13 

For an accurate estimate to be made from a small sample the sample must be representative of the population. I have a hard time believing such surveys are representative. I really have no idea how they choose people to survey. But one of the surveys linked to qualified one of the stats with the term "Bicycle Club Cyclists". Makes me suspicious is all. Of course I don't know but I wouldn't be surprised if 90% of the people I see riding (including me) are not "club" riders here in Phoenix.

cehowardGS

Why thank you kindly sir!! ..

However, the credit must go to our C&V area. I am a newbie, and I learned almost everything on what to get from the guys/gals in C&V. BTW, even the beater rides good..

ItsJustMe

What do curb cuts have to do with cycling? I've never seen a curb cut in the road, only on sidewalks.