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Why Biking Injuries and Deaths Are Spiking In the US
HughPickens.com writes: NPR reports that more and more adults across the U.S. are strapping on helmets and hopping on bikes to get to work. Unfortunately, between 1998 and 2013, the rate of bicycle-related injuries among all adults increased by 28 percent, from 96 injuries per 100,000 people in 1998-1999, to 123 injuries per 100,000 people in 2012-2013. And while the death rate among child cyclists has plummeted in the past four decades, the mortality rate among cyclists ages 35 to 54 has tripled. Dr. Benjamin Breyer isn't sure what's driving the surge in accidents among Generation Xers and baby boomers, but one reason could be what's known as the Lance Armstrong effect. "After Lance Armstrong had all of his success at the Tour de France, a lot more people were riding, and there were a lot more older riders that took up the bicycle for sport."
The most recent National Household Travel Survey showed that the vast majority of the increase in bicycling between 1995 and 2009 came from Americans older than 25, with the biggest increases coming in the oldest groups. That has meant more men in their 50s and 60s on road bikes, riding at high speeds, Breyer says — a recipe for serious injuries. Though a rapidly growing share of older people would like to ride, American cities built during the last 60 years don't make it easy for most people to do so. At the end of the day, reducing cycling accidents may boil down to something simple: Making sure that bikers know the rules of the road — and that drivers know how to deal with bikers.
The most recent National Household Travel Survey showed that the vast majority of the increase in bicycling between 1995 and 2009 came from Americans older than 25, with the biggest increases coming in the oldest groups. That has meant more men in their 50s and 60s on road bikes, riding at high speeds, Breyer says — a recipe for serious injuries. Though a rapidly growing share of older people would like to ride, American cities built during the last 60 years don't make it easy for most people to do so. At the end of the day, reducing cycling accidents may boil down to something simple: Making sure that bikers know the rules of the road — and that drivers know how to deal with bikers.
When are motorists going to start obeying the rules of the road?
in the US probably never... maybe when you take away their guns... I'm jokingly implying that there is a similar feeling of entitlement to drive as you wish on the road.
:)
Having moved to SF from EU I notice that nobody (drivers, cyclists nor pedestrians) obeys the rules (granted cars have a MUCH higher responsibility to so given their capacity for dange). Anyways, considering how the roads and rules are made I fully understand why they aren't honored.
Here some examples that invites people to do bad things:
- turn right on a red light (people constantly forget bring the car to a full stop, nor is the intersection clear),
- lights only required at night (people forget, and it's impossible to distingush active from passive participants, I see people in tunnels without lights on!!!),
- street parking on major roads (stops traffic in dangerous ways, insanely dangerous for cyclists),
- stop signs everywhere (makes people gas up and down like maniacs, bad for environment and encourages reckless driving, causes people to ignore stop signs),
- lack of bike cycle paths (despite the fact that US cities have extremely wide roads compared to European cities, you have plenty of space),
- grid system treating almost every road as equal, rather than promoting some roads to serve as conduits (keeps cars driving everywhere, and inefficiently so),
- lack of training, In countries such as Denmark a drivers license requires:
- 28 x 45 minute study sessions,
- 4 x 45 minutes closed driving course,
- 7 hours first aid course,
- 4 x 45 minutes on wet driving course,
- 16 x 45 minutes on public road with driving instructor,
- Test while sitting next to a police officer who loves to flunk you
Credit where credit is due though, I applaude the concept of allowing kids to drive with an adult supervisor present. This is a good way of getting a lot of supervised hours on the road! And it's a lot cheaper than driving with a driving instructor, IMO not a substitute for professional training but a really solid complement.