Safety-Cycling
Bicycling overall is far safer than motorcycles, ocean swimms, horses, hospital stays, or climbing ladders. 9 out of 10 serious bicycling injuries don't involve a car or other motorized vehicle. "There is no greater danger to the urban cyclist thant the cyclist's own incompetence". These words come from Robert Hurst in his book The Art Of Urban Cycling. It's a good book, so no matter how experienced a rider you are don't let those words upset you because he backs that statement up with some very encouraging teaching. The point I want to make is that we as cyclists need education, with continuing education. I count myself right up there in the front of the class.
Fewer then 1 in 70 car/bike collisions are fatal. 2 out of 3 cyclists walk away after treatment. In the USA about 700 cyclist die each year compared to 4,000 motorcyclists, 5,000 pedestrians, and nearly 40,000 car/truck drivers/passengers. These statistics can be found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)web site. Very easy to look up and verify.
About half of all collisions and deaths are children who simply failed to yield at driveways and intersections. A huge majority of the dangers posed for accidents are at intersections. A substantial percentage of deaths are drunks without lights at night. If you take these factors out, cycling is safer than being in a car.
OK, there are the statistics simplified. Most cyclists don't feel all that safe. So with that they rely on the preconceived ideas of what is safe and they begin to make their own rules. In other words, they make an attempt to feel better/safer. They've never learned the basics Safety-Cycling.
What is the first rule of safety for in bike riding? Many times you will hear "Wear a Helmet". While that is certainly a must in my book, it is not the first rule. Learn how to avoid commonplace collisions is the correct answer. Just like car drivers take Defensive Driving classes every couple of years either to get a discount on insurance or beat a ticket, experienced cyclists would also to well to riview their safety practices.
There is a growing number of cities and counties developing comprehensive bicycle safety programs. El Paso is currently underway with adding bicycle lanes throughout the city. Hopefully the program won't take very long, because this is a good thing. In addition to the lanes I would like to see some funding for teaching our cyclists.
It doesn't take any more work or political capital to teach every cyclist than it does to build a few thousand bike lanes, which by the way end at every intersection, where, remember, is where most collisions occur.
Not to forget Mr. Heinz Duerkop's gruesome end. His accident statistic falls in an extremely rare catagory. For the driver to drive away to leave a person to die adds more speculation to the event. At least it does to me.
Fewer then 1 in 70 car/bike collisions are fatal. 2 out of 3 cyclists walk away after treatment. In the USA about 700 cyclist die each year compared to 4,000 motorcyclists, 5,000 pedestrians, and nearly 40,000 car/truck drivers/passengers. These statistics can be found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)web site. Very easy to look up and verify.
About half of all collisions and deaths are children who simply failed to yield at driveways and intersections. A huge majority of the dangers posed for accidents are at intersections. A substantial percentage of deaths are drunks without lights at night. If you take these factors out, cycling is safer than being in a car.
OK, there are the statistics simplified. Most cyclists don't feel all that safe. So with that they rely on the preconceived ideas of what is safe and they begin to make their own rules. In other words, they make an attempt to feel better/safer. They've never learned the basics Safety-Cycling.
What is the first rule of safety for in bike riding? Many times you will hear "Wear a Helmet". While that is certainly a must in my book, it is not the first rule. Learn how to avoid commonplace collisions is the correct answer. Just like car drivers take Defensive Driving classes every couple of years either to get a discount on insurance or beat a ticket, experienced cyclists would also to well to riview their safety practices.
There is a growing number of cities and counties developing comprehensive bicycle safety programs. El Paso is currently underway with adding bicycle lanes throughout the city. Hopefully the program won't take very long, because this is a good thing. In addition to the lanes I would like to see some funding for teaching our cyclists.
It doesn't take any more work or political capital to teach every cyclist than it does to build a few thousand bike lanes, which by the way end at every intersection, where, remember, is where most collisions occur.
Not to forget Mr. Heinz Duerkop's gruesome end. His accident statistic falls in an extremely rare catagory. For the driver to drive away to leave a person to die adds more speculation to the event. At least it does to me.
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