Bike Forums - how DANGEROUS is cycling ?

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- - how DANGEROUS is cycling ? (https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus-50/614495-how-dangerous-cycling.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by wobblyoldgeezer (Post 10280272)

And then I realised that as I'm still hobbling around on crutches after a 'no other vehicle' 1kph tumble, my views are as worth attention as listening to rice crispies for lottery forecasts.

Me too!

Over the past 5 months I've had lots of opportunities to consider how close we always are to a life changing incident. One second I was riding along behind my grandson feeling no danger what-so-ever, the next I'm laying on the Katy trail waiting for the ambulance. Now I'm shopping for a recumbent bike because I'm concerned that my left elbow may never completely heal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stapfam (Post 10280284)

Having ridden in England and France- I would prefer the attitude of other Road users in France to the ones we have in the UK.

The French love all sport and on the road look out for cyclists. In fact- I would prefer to cycle in France than Drive. One example was on an organised ride with UK riders in France. Came to a hill in woods and I saw a car stopped at the top of the hill. I overtook the other riders and warned them to keep to the right and told the car driver that the other riders were all safe enough. His reply was "Why should I ruin their ride when I can enjoy watching them come up the hill". He then got out of his car along with his wife and kids and as the riders got to the top- they were cheered and applauded for managing the 5% 300metre climb. As the driver said- They are enjoying themselves-I am just out for a drive in the car.

And this is typical of the attitude you get in France from all other road users.

You don't see that in the US. If somebody in a car waves at me they generally don't use all five fingers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drxbmw (Post 10266181)

.

I absolutely HATE the statement "there are two kinds of motorcycle riders, those who have crashed and those who will."

Gee, think that statement applies to airplane pilots as well ?

I guess it depends on whether or not the airplane pilot rides motorcycles!

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipcom (Post 10260359)

If you walk, you could be the poor schmuck in the middle of a fiery multiple car pile up OR dragged to pieces leaving body parts along the pavement by a tractor trailer. Given that I'd say that bicycling is no more dangerous than walking. :D

And if you stay home on the couch, you could be the poor schmuck whose house is plowed into by a drunk driver, reducing your house to rubble, while you were watching the NFL playoffs. Given that, I'd say that bicycling is no more dangerous than walking.

the last couple of years, we've had about as many people die sitting at bus stops after being hit by vehicles coming off the road as we've had cyclists dying on the road.

And then we find out that in most of the cycling deaths the people on the bikes were riding on the wrong side of the road/ with no lights at night/ running red lights/ off the side walk into a cross walk against the flow of traffic/ drunk.

I'm not too worried.