|
Originally Posted by FBinNY
(Post 16836185)
The vast majority of cyclists ride for a lifetime without a motor vehicle accident. Even if we reduce the set to only high mileage active road cyclists, it's still if and now when.
Then if we discount minor MVAs, such as hooks with no or minor injuries, the odds for lifetime safe cycling get more favorable yet. No matter how you measure, bicycling is a safe activity. This is recognized by life insurers who offer their best rates to bicyclists, while denying them to participants in many other sports. There have even been studies showing that not cycling is more dangerous (based on life expectancy) than cycling. So, yes, it's not if but when you'll die, but odds favor it taking longer if you're an active cyclist. |
Originally Posted by GTryder
(Post 16838768)
Drive defensively - ride intensely defensively.
|
Originally Posted by joeyduck
(Post 16838854)
I like this, permission to use?
:thumb: |
Originally Posted by Drew Eckhardt
(Post 16838715)
If you don't ride there's a very good possibility you'll be obese, have high cholesterol leading to atherosclerosis and a heart attack, develop type 2 diabetes which leads to amputation, and otherwise suffer before dying young.
|
Originally Posted by tarwheel
(Post 16838094)
I think it's a rather stupid attitude to assume that you'll inevitably be hit by a car while cycling. I've been cycling more than 40 years and I've never been hit. Since the year 2000, I've cycling 97,000+ plus miles -- mostly on the road -- without getting hit.
That said, I am not surprised that some cyclists do get hit by cars. Many cyclists use no common sense and flaunt traffic laws. I see cyclists very often riding in the dark or low-light conditions wearing dark clothing and no lights (or just a dim blinkie). Many cyclists wear jerseys/jackets that blend right into the road, apparently thinking it nerdy to wear bright clothes. Many cyclists run red lights, go the wrong way on one-way streets, and ride as if they think they have a protective shield around them. While commuting, I usually wear jerseys/jackets/vests that are high-viz yellow. I always ride with my headlights and taillights on in traffic. For recreational rides, I have a collection of brightly colored jerseys. Given my track record, I am inclined to believe that my visibility has made a difference. I also ride very defensively, always assuming that drivers don't see me, which has prevented accidents on a number of occasions. |
Clipless pedals cause more accidents than cars, remember the first time you tried to get your foot out and down you went?
When I was about 18, I witnessed my friend and co-worker get tossed over the top of a VW bug. Our traffic light turned green, he raced our line of cars across the intersection when a teenager in the VW decided to run his red and tossed my friend over his hood: broken leg and rib (likely multiple), cut calf when he was on his back on the windshield and his foot swung back through the passenger side window smashing it, and of course, a destroyed bike. He recovered fully (physically anyway) but we had a summer job together and went to different high schools so I never saw him again. I now wait for cars to lead me into the intersection although I look both ways to ensure that all moving cars are slowing to a stop. It was an avoidable accident; look before you leap. |
[MENTION=247277]jrickards[/MENTION], I now do the "Danish thing" and lead the cars into the intersection. Of course, I look first.
|
The worst thing about this forum is the incessant fear mongering. I know cars are dangerous, and people die on bikes daily. Reminding people on the forums constantly and having a mantra 'Its not if you get hit....' doesn't really send the right message to people considering commuting or purchasing a bike for exercise, etc.
As for me, I've been mirrored once and had my front wheel clipped. No major injuries, but both drivers took off. Other than that I've been pretty safe; my two rules are 1) Assume the driver is going to make the worst possible decision and 2) avoid dangerous roads, even if it means a longer ride. |
Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 16838917)
@jrickards, I now do the "Danish thing" and lead the cars into the intersection. Of course, I look first.
|
Originally Posted by furiousferret
(Post 16839027)
The worst thing about this forum is the incessant fear mongering. I know cars are dangerous, and people die on bikes daily. Reminding people on the forums constantly and having a mantra 'Its not if you get hit....' doesn't really send the right message to people considering commuting or purchasing a bike for exercise, etc.
As for me, I've been mirrored once and had my front wheel clipped. No major injuries, but both drivers took off. Other than that I've been pretty safe; my two rules are 1) Assume the driver is going to make the worst possible decision and 2) avoid dangerous roads, even if it means a longer ride. Your second rule can often lead to a more enjoyable ride as well. Also, dangerous roads can be a direct result of dangerous (poorly designed) intersections. After being hit by a car at one of our city's busiest intersections (not my fault), I either avoid a handful of major intersections or dismount & walk my bike across the marked pedestrian crossings. |
Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 16838897)
So if I don't ride, there's a very good possibility of not taking up racketball or gardening or bird watching?
Running (noting that 4000 pedestrians are killed each year by drivers) and swimming are more likely to do the trick although lots of people don't like the high impact which goes with running or monotony swimming laps in a pool. |
My experience: 50 years cycling, the last 20 more seriously (12 - 15,000 kms a year), training, commuting, group riding. In those 50yrs I was hit 3 times:
#1 ) my fault, wasn't aware, actually I hit the car, no harm; #2 ) both at fault, intersection at dusk, driver didn't pay attention, I didn't have a light, very minor arm injury; #3 ) this was serious, not my fault, drunk driver hit me from behind, concussion, broken scapula, sprained ankle, lots of bruises and road rash. I was riding again in 30 days, complete recovery in 2 months So although I've been hit, I don't think cycling is as dangerous as some believe. In fact, most (nearly all) of my many cycling friends were never hit, and none of them died while cycling (knock on wood...) |
During the past 40 years of cycling I have been hit by cars twice. They were both classic intersection accidents at low speeds where the driver was at fault. I was on the hood of one car for a few seconds, and knocked aside into a driveway in the other. Neither resulted in any injuries. Those experiences have probably prevented me from taking unnecessary risks and being in worse accidents.
Marc |
[MENTION=192132]Drew Eckhardt[/MENTION], I know all that. I'm just saying it sounds a little silly to imply that cycling is the only way out of obesity hell. There really aren't many cyclists in this country, yet while we do have an obesity problem, there are more ways to solve it than just one. Your way and my way are cycling, and I think riding a bike is about the closest to heaven I'll ever get, but I can't presume to say this is true for everyone. Jes' sayin'.
|
Originally Posted by jrickards
(Post 16839039)
By "Danish thing", do you mean that you're taking the lane at the front? If so, that seems like a sound strategy.
More rules that I follow, more or less: - I can ride in the rain or in the dark, but riding in both at once is asking for trouble. - Ride on roads that have either plenty of extra room or aren't terribly fast or don't have heavy traffic. It's not necessary to have all three advantages. One will do. |
Originally Posted by Reynolds
(Post 16839235)
So although I've been hit, I don't think cycling is as dangerous as some believe. In fact, most (nearly all) of my many cycling friends were never hit, and none of them died while cycling (knock on wood...)
I remember as a bike mechanic, talking to a customer, suggesting that he let his son cycle to school. He said no way. I asked if he also takes his kid in the car. OK, that was very smart alecky of me, a bad way to convey a point. But I believe cycling is generally safer than using a car. |
Originally Posted by mgw4jc
(Post 16838579)
I would definitely call that a sidewalk and avoid it as a cyclist. That looks more dangerous for you hitting a pedestrian than for a car hitting you. Passing pedestrians that don't know I'm coming scares me more than a car behind me. Having to slow down and alert each person would be annoying enough in itself that I'd just jump onto the street. That path may be okay for a 10 year old barely moving, but not someone going 10+ miles per hour.
HOWEVER, the 4 times I got hit was at very low speeds - I never ride over 20 km/h on those lanes, while cars are usually manouvering - pulling in/out, or turning at junctions. So I was never harmed. Just bruised. In the road, I never had a problem, but if I do, it will be probably with a car travelling 50+ km/h. Plus drivers get really pissed when they see you out of bike lane (the law also forces cyclists to use the lanes). I once had a BMW driver try to push me off the road deliberately (swerved onto me, sideways, like Ben Hur film :) ). So I sometimes use the road, sometimes the bike lane - depends. |
As long as it's not as bad as my uncle on his motorcycle (knocked out, needed a titanium rod in his leg and he couldn't walk for months)
My closest call was actually as a pedestrian, I was looking down at my mp3 player crossing a street and this truck was making a left right into me (as the sun was setting i think that's why he didn't see me) I thought i was going to be hit so for a split second didn't react, but then decided to do a little jump and lucky enough i got out of the way.........just laughed that one off, thanks to all the close calls on a bike it wasn't that big of a deal :roflmao2: |
When I was somewhere between 10 and 12, I was on my bike, out with friends on our residential street, chatting, laughing, not looking where I was going but travelling relatively slowly, hit the trunk of a parked car and flipped off my bike onto the trunk. Embarrassed and afraid the owner might have seen me, I hopped back on my bike and took off. :lol:
Ego was bruised, which, as you know, is a serious injury!!! |
Originally Posted by Slaninar
(Post 16840501)
So I sometimes use the road, sometimes the bike lane - depends.
Stay safe out there. |
I know Vancouver is not as bad as some cities but honestly, every time I go there now, I just cringe. I left Vancouver 18 years ago and I thought the traffic was horrendous then, it was part of what drove me out of the city.
I go there now; population has doubled, number of cars has tripled and amount of available traffic lanes has reduced. more drivers; more frustration, more aggression and a very large number of people who are new drivers/immigrants with questionable skills. Just awful. I think if I ever found myself back there i would sell the cars and just ridfe the skytrain. |
Originally Posted by wapiti
(Post 16841415)
I know Vancouver is not as bad as some cities but honestly, every time I go there now, I just cringe. I left Vancouver 18 years ago and I thought the traffic was horrendous then, it was part of what drove me out of the city.
I go there now; population has doubled, number of cars has tripled and amount of available traffic lanes has reduced. more drivers; more frustration, more aggression and a very large number of people who are new drivers/immigrants with questionable skills. Just awful. I think if I ever found myself back there i would sell the cars and just ridfe the skytrain. I remember my first time riding my motorcycle through Vancouver, the closest I ever came to being t-boned. Turning left, at a stop light. Light goes green and starts flashing. I think, yeah I can turn left, like Montreal. Ohh how wrong I was as three oncoming lanes start gunning for position like an F1 start as I start turning across them. I learned all about cleaning my skivvies and pedestrian controlled lights that day. But now we rarely drive during the week and we are much happier. |
Originally Posted by joeyduck
(Post 16841509)
Amen! I love driving everywhere, grew up in a garage working on cars. Put on hundreds of thousands of miles by the time I was 25 in the car and on the motorcycle. Went to SFU for my M.Sc. Live one bus stop away. Started work in Richmond, two moths later started cycling. I have not looked back. I now live closer to work and I have not driven (to work) since April, only to Costco or the big weekly shop at Superstore. My wife does much more driving (to the aquarium with our son) and she now understands the frustration I felt and vented for years here. Bad light timing, bad drivers, bad parkers, bad design, poor construction planning.
I remember my first time riding my motorcycle through Vancouver, the closest I ever came to being t-boned. Turning left, at a stop light. Light goes green and starts flashing. I think, yeah I can turn left, like Montreal. Ohh how wrong I was as three oncoming lanes start gunning for position like an F1 start as I start turning across them. I learned all about cleaning my skivvies and pedestrian controlled lights that day. But now we rarely drive during the week and we are much happier. Richmond to the North Shore was maybe 20 minutes if you hit some red lights. It was heaven. The riding was great. now ........................ |
Originally Posted by wapiti
(Post 16841524)
When I first went to Vancouver I could drive from UBC to the foot of Cypress in about 12 minutes.
Richmond to the North Shore was maybe 20 minutes if you hit some red lights. It was heaven. The riding was great. now ........................ |
Originally Posted by joeyduck
(Post 16841576)
We live near VGH now and if we try to go to the ferry it is at least 45 minutes to Horseshoe Bay. When I lived near SFU the drive to Richmond was about an hour, the ride about an hour. Easy choice to ride. Drive with no traffic 32 minutes, regular traffic 60 minutes. Bike 55 minutes.
My youngest is at SFU. I have told her not to even think of living off campus if she wants to maintain her sanity. |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:14 PM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.