Why sidewalk cycling is dangerous
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 | | |People wonder how riding bicycles on sidewalks can be dangerous. First, there is a greater chance of minor collisions with cyclists and pedestrians poorest because of the visibility and restricted room and also a greater chance of falling down. However, the likelihood of a collision with a motor vehicle is also increasing. These accidents occur at intersections and entrances, the former more deadly. Refusing to dismount and often do not want to wait for the light, the rider starts cycling through the intersection parallel to the main road, completely hidden from a motorist turning until the last second, when it is often too late to motorists to stop. A study of these risks have been made in 1994 and showed that cycling east sidewalk nearly two times more dangerous than cycling in the street, and the bicycle against traffic on the sidewalk more than four times more dangerous than cycling in the streets. For a good discussion, see the dilemmas of planning bicycle.
Pedestrians are safer than cyclists sidewalk because 1) they move more slowly, 2) they can look beyond more easily, and 3) they can move from one side. However, even if these sidewalk cyclists were as safe as pedestrians, they would not be very safe, as seven times as many pedestrians are killed each year as cyclists and pedestrians have been more deaths per mile of travel that cyclists. (The environmental benefits of cycling and walking estimates 21 to 44 billion kilometer walk and 6 to 21 billion km bike.)
The most common cause of bicycle victims
Two of the biggest causes of death, then, are the following: 1) a misperception that a cyclist has no right on the road and 2) a fatalistic belief that cycling in traffic is dangerous in itself and that traffic accidents are inevitable. But not only the cyclist have all rights on the road, but the cyclist is also safer on the road as motorists. To show that accidents are preventable, here is a list of the most serious forms of bicycle-car collisions, most likely to cause death, from a recent study (crash-type manual for cyclists Carol Tan):
1. 5.1% The cyclist was released in a moved forward on a vehicle ahead.
2. 4.3% The cyclist turned left in front of a passing vehicle.
3. 3.9% The motorist was exceed cyclists, the cause of the accident unclear.
4. 2.7% The cyclist was hit while traveling on the wrong (left) side of the road.
5. 1.4% The cyclist, on the wrong side, turned right in front of a vehicle.
6. 1.3% The motorist was beyond cyclists and did not see him.
7. 1.2% The cyclist lost control and swerved into the path of the vehicle.
8. .8% The cyclist made a left turn normal, but ignored on traffic ahead.
9. .6% The motorist lost control of the car and struck the cyclist.
10. .5% Motorist struck a vehicle play (big wheel, equipped with bicycle wheels).
Together, these accidents are most likely to cause death, accounted for 21.8% of the total number of bicycle-motor vehicle collisions in the study. Let's look at some of them individually.
In the first case, the cyclist out of a driveway has a responsibility to look both directions and to ensure that it is safe. That's all that was necessary. Half of these accidents occurred at very young children and most children.
In the second case, a cyclist to turn left into the movement must look beyond and then switch to turn the correct position or lane when it is safe to do so. If the rider is unable or afraid to get into this position, he can roll to the curb, get off and walk through. Most of these accidents happened to children as well.
The fear of the third type of collision, when the cyclist was struck from behind, encourages people to ride bicycles on sidewalks or on the wrong side of the road. But the cyclist should not be naive victim of such accidents. The cyclist can listen to the approach of vehicles and / or scanning the back from time to time, looking back or using a mirror, and thus be aware that vehicles are moving carefully and safely. Keeping on the right, moving even farther to the right, or even pull off the road when it seems necessary, the cyclist can avoid being affected. See my article on fear of traffic from the rear.
The fourth type of collision is caused by the cyclist travel on the wrong side of the road (against traffic). It is both illegal and very dangerous. See Wrong Way Cycling for this discussion.
The fifth also implies a rider on the wrong side, but in this case it turns into the face of the movement. This type was more common among children. Here, the rider made two fatal mistakes.
The sixth accident involving a motorist does not see the cyclist on the road ahead. These accidents occurred almost entirely cyclists adults. The problem of visibility is mainly due to darkness or glare from the sun. Again, the cyclist should not be naive victim. Although very few bicycle riders use them, both reflectors and lights are required by law the night. Wearing brightly coloured clothes during the day can also reduce such risks. Equally important, the rider must pay attention to each vehicle when the sun is low or at night. It should also be recalled that the headlights of motor vehicles on reflectors shine only when the vehicle is intended for the bike, so a cyclist on a curve or dip May be invisible until the last moment. A bright and / or flashing light rear complete a large rear reflector is an excellent safety device. See my article on the fear of movement of the rear for more information on this property.
In the seventh accident, the loss of control by the cyclist caused the accident. Many motorists say they are concerned about this type of accident. Very young children are often victims as well as middle-aged cyclists, many of whom had consumed alcohol.
There is less to say about the last three. It should be obvious that a cyclist needs to wait for traffic to come, that motorists who lost control are dangerous, and that children play on vehicles are at high risk.
Pedestrians are safer than cyclists sidewalk because 1) they move more slowly, 2) they can look beyond more easily, and 3) they can move from one side. However, even if these sidewalk cyclists were as safe as pedestrians, they would not be very safe, as seven times as many pedestrians are killed each year as cyclists and pedestrians have been more deaths per mile of travel that cyclists. (The environmental benefits of cycling and walking estimates 21 to 44 billion kilometer walk and 6 to 21 billion km bike.)
The most common cause of bicycle victims
Two of the biggest causes of death, then, are the following: 1) a misperception that a cyclist has no right on the road and 2) a fatalistic belief that cycling in traffic is dangerous in itself and that traffic accidents are inevitable. But not only the cyclist have all rights on the road, but the cyclist is also safer on the road as motorists. To show that accidents are preventable, here is a list of the most serious forms of bicycle-car collisions, most likely to cause death, from a recent study (crash-type manual for cyclists Carol Tan):
1. 5.1% The cyclist was released in a moved forward on a vehicle ahead.
2. 4.3% The cyclist turned left in front of a passing vehicle.
3. 3.9% The motorist was exceed cyclists, the cause of the accident unclear.
4. 2.7% The cyclist was hit while traveling on the wrong (left) side of the road.
5. 1.4% The cyclist, on the wrong side, turned right in front of a vehicle.
6. 1.3% The motorist was beyond cyclists and did not see him.
7. 1.2% The cyclist lost control and swerved into the path of the vehicle.
8. .8% The cyclist made a left turn normal, but ignored on traffic ahead.
9. .6% The motorist lost control of the car and struck the cyclist.
10. .5% Motorist struck a vehicle play (big wheel, equipped with bicycle wheels).
Together, these accidents are most likely to cause death, accounted for 21.8% of the total number of bicycle-motor vehicle collisions in the study. Let's look at some of them individually.
In the first case, the cyclist out of a driveway has a responsibility to look both directions and to ensure that it is safe. That's all that was necessary. Half of these accidents occurred at very young children and most children.
In the second case, a cyclist to turn left into the movement must look beyond and then switch to turn the correct position or lane when it is safe to do so. If the rider is unable or afraid to get into this position, he can roll to the curb, get off and walk through. Most of these accidents happened to children as well.
The fear of the third type of collision, when the cyclist was struck from behind, encourages people to ride bicycles on sidewalks or on the wrong side of the road. But the cyclist should not be naive victim of such accidents. The cyclist can listen to the approach of vehicles and / or scanning the back from time to time, looking back or using a mirror, and thus be aware that vehicles are moving carefully and safely. Keeping on the right, moving even farther to the right, or even pull off the road when it seems necessary, the cyclist can avoid being affected. See my article on fear of traffic from the rear.
The fourth type of collision is caused by the cyclist travel on the wrong side of the road (against traffic). It is both illegal and very dangerous. See Wrong Way Cycling for this discussion.
The fifth also implies a rider on the wrong side, but in this case it turns into the face of the movement. This type was more common among children. Here, the rider made two fatal mistakes.
The sixth accident involving a motorist does not see the cyclist on the road ahead. These accidents occurred almost entirely cyclists adults. The problem of visibility is mainly due to darkness or glare from the sun. Again, the cyclist should not be naive victim. Although very few bicycle riders use them, both reflectors and lights are required by law the night. Wearing brightly coloured clothes during the day can also reduce such risks. Equally important, the rider must pay attention to each vehicle when the sun is low or at night. It should also be recalled that the headlights of motor vehicles on reflectors shine only when the vehicle is intended for the bike, so a cyclist on a curve or dip May be invisible until the last moment. A bright and / or flashing light rear complete a large rear reflector is an excellent safety device. See my article on the fear of movement of the rear for more information on this property.
In the seventh accident, the loss of control by the cyclist caused the accident. Many motorists say they are concerned about this type of accident. Very young children are often victims as well as middle-aged cyclists, many of whom had consumed alcohol.
There is less to say about the last three. It should be obvious that a cyclist needs to wait for traffic to come, that motorists who lost control are dangerous, and that children play on vehicles are at high risk.
