Is Bicycling Really A 'Safe' Activity?

by Jonathan
(Chicago, IL)

Bicycle riding has become not only a recreational past time of children and health enthusiasts. It is also touted as a ‘green’ alternative to driving a car and many cities even have “ride your bike to work” days. Though no one argues that getting on a bike is a fun way to get exercise, is it safe?

Bicycle Accident Statistics

Death rates for bicycle riding have stayed fairly steady in the last twenty years, ranging anywhere from a low of 636 to a high of 853 between 1989 and 2008. Without knowing the amount of bicycle riders each year, it is impossible to gauge percentages and really know whether the amount of deaths or accidents has increased or not. However, it is interesting to note some large changes in the people who are involved in bicycle accidents.

• More adult bicycle deaths. The numbers of children under 16 years of age that are involved in bicycle accidents has decreased substantially in the last twenty years.

• While the number of deaths has remained fairly level, the percentage of adults or people over 16 years of age have attributed to the majority of deaths. In 1989, the adults were 55% of the deaths and it has continuously rose to 86% by 2008.

• 52% of the bicycle deaths happened between 3 pm and midnight in 2008

• Bicycle riders with a blood alcohol content of .08% or greater attributed to 26% of deaths in 2008

More and more adults seem to be the victims of bicycle accident deaths. Data from the census bureau suggests that this can be tied to the increase in adults using bicycles as transportation. The 2005 census showed a 75% increase in the number of people who used a bicycle as a mode of transportation over 15 years prior.

Helmets And Bicycle Safety

Helmets have become common in bicycle riders and in some states they are even mandatory. 21 states have age specific bicycle helmet laws, many only for riders 16 years of age and younger. 14 states do not have any such laws at all. The National Highway Safety Administration supports the use of helmets and helmet laws for bicyclists. According to their statistics:

• Helmets are 85-88% effective in mitigating head and brain injuries

• Even though head injuries are the #1 cause of bicycle deaths (70%), only 20-25% of riders wear a helmet

Bicycle riding is a fun and healthy activity but it needs to be done safely. Almost all bicycle related deaths, children and adult, are reported on roads with motor vehicles. Also, the lack of helmet use seems to contribute to the amount of serious head injuries amongst bicyclists. So while riding with a helmet on a bike trail may be fairly safe, hitting the road on your bike may not be.

Resources:

http://www.iihs.org

http://www.wane.com

www.bikeleague.org

www.nhtsa.gov

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Jonathan Rosenfeld is the founder of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers (www.rosenfeldinjurylawyers.com), and frequently represents Chicago bicyclists injured in auto accidents.