Pop Quiz: What Kills Bicyclists?
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 07.15.08
Answer: A) an intoxicated cyclist
According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 24% of all fatal bicycle accidents involve an intoxicated cyclist. That's a sobering statistic, but it's also good news: while many people avoid cycling because they say it is too dangerous, they are many things one can do to make cycling far safer. Not least of which is, well, don't bicycle while under the influence. Add in some lights, a helmet, and a safe riding style, and cycling becomes a fun, healthy, money-saving and green way to get from point A to point B.
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Source: USnews.com
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so, does anyone know the percentage of fatal bike accidents due to the other three choices in the pop quiz?
and I wonder how many involve an intoxicated byciclist on a cell phone that's struck by an intoxicated motorist on a cell phone.
And what percentage of fatalities involved an automobile?
HA HA.. I was right...
yet another reason bikes and cars should be treated the same
I suspect that these intoxicated cyclists are often problem drinkers whose loss of a driver's license due to DUI led them to become habitually drunken cyclists instead.
And are we to presume these "cyclists" are cycling because they lost their driver's licenses to DWI convictions?
"According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 24% of all fatal bicycle accidents involve an intoxicated cyclist."
That doesn't mean that the cyclist's intoxication caused or contributed to the accident though, does it?
I know this doesn't factor into the "fatal accident" statistic, but I was hit by a driver using a cell phone and smoking when I was on my bike. They just swerved onto the sidewalk, and there was nothing I could do.
No matter what the statistics say, I cant be convinced that cycling is safer than driving a car. If I had been in a car probably the worst thing that would have happened would have been a fender bender. Not a couple broken ribs and practically every tendon in my right knee torn off. That was my last ride on a bike. After 4 years and three surgeries I still have a great deal of pain in my knee, so even if I'm having a good day and I can ride a bike I'm not going to because the pain and suffering was not worth it.
When a car comes really close to me for no good reason (meaning there is no one in the other lane),
It appears as though they are on the phone (from the looks of the backs of their heads). So I don't think it matters how bright your biking clothes are or how many reflectors or lights you have, just like when you're driving a car, it's inherently dangerous to be the same road as an inattentive driver.