http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/11065.0.html

This article made me second guess what I do as a hobby. I love cycling and couldn't imagine anything else replacing it. But reading the article made me wonder about the implications, the man died and left behind a wife and child...

I'd like to think that when I ride, I try to ride safely. I've been riding for over 2 years now and getting hit from behind is one of my greatest fears.

How do you guys go about this? What can I do to be even safer? Do the benefits of the sport outweight the risks involved?

just curious.

If you have to ask these questions, then maybe it's time to hang it up.
Let me tell you a little secret............Nobody gets out of here, alive.

"Nobody gets out of here, alive."

good point.

BYW getting hit from behind is fairly rare from what I can tell. The most common car/cyclist crash seems to involve drivers turning left in front of cyclists.

http://www.massbike.org/info/statistics.htm

Their summary of crash causes:

When the motorist and bicyclist were on initial parallel paths, either in the same direction or opposing directions, the three most frequent categories of crashes were:
Motorist turning or merging into the path of a bicyclist (12.1 percent of all crashes). Almost half (48.8 percent) of these crashes involved a motorist making a left turn in front of a bicyclist approaching from the opposite direction.
Motorist overtaking a bicyclist (8.6 percent of all crashes). Of these crashes, 23 percent appeared to involve a motorist who misjudged the space required to safely pass the bicyclist.
Bicyclist turning or merging into the path of a motorist (7.3 percent of all crashes). Within this category, 60 percent involved a bicyclist making a left turn in front of a motorist traveling in the same direction.

When the motorist and bicyclist were on initial crossing paths, the three most frequent categories of crashes were:
Motorist failed to yield right-of-way at a junction (21.7 percent of all crashes). Of these crashes, more than a third (37.3 percent) involved a motorist violating the sign or signal and drove into the crosswalk or intersection and struck the bicyclist.
Bicyclist failed to yield right-of-way at an intersection (16.8 percent of all crashes). Within this category, 38 percent involved a bicyclist who had stopped for a sign or flashing signal and then drove into the intersection and was struck by the motor vehicle.
Bicyclist failed to yield right-of-way at a midblock location (11.7 percent of all crashes). Almost half of these crashes (43.4 percent) involved a bicyclist riding out into the roadway from a residential driveway.

Let me tell you a little secret............Nobody gets out of here, alive.

I have lived a long time, haven't died yet.

I've read that although most people fear getting hit from behind that this is actually fairly unusual. The most dangerous place is in an intersection.

As far as this guy goes, it sounds like he was doing everything right and still got killed. No guarding against freak accidents like this.

http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/11065.0.html

This article made me second guess what I do as a hobby. I love cycling and couldn't imagine anything else replacing it. But reading the article made me wonder about the implications, the man died and left behind a wife and child...

I'd like to think that when I ride, I try to ride safely. I've been riding for over 2 years now and getting hit from behind is one of my greatest fears.

How do you guys go about this? What can I do to be even safer? Do the benefits of the sport outweight the risks involved?

just curious.

Cycling on public roads with 3000-4000lb chunks of moving steel is dangerous. The majority of racers get hurt during training, not in races.

That said, my very best friend died from head injuries sustained in a criterium. We worked and trained together every day for several years. It happens and it sucks.

However, as MB1 and others mentioned, you can die from all sorts of things. Are the chances higher on a bike of injury? Perhaps but not overly so. You do have the option of sitting home on the couch, gaining hundreds of pounds and dying from the result. We all make our choices and take our chances.

When I'm on the bike, I am living. Sitting on a couch ain't living.

I have chosen to live in Minnesota, not Chicago, because of the bike. That's a concession. I will hop a trail occasionally to get in and out of town when it's smart. After a long ride, I'll hit a bike trail in town as opposed to a road, if I'm too tired to keep up or fight traffic. So I've made some small concessions in the interest of trying to be ubersafe.

But I could die a thousand other ways also.

My 2 kids and their mother pick up 1.2 million if I kick off.

Cycling is a risky hobby. I have been knocked around by cars for years. I have 4 serious accidents under my belt 1 resulting in surgery.

At least they havent made cycling a high risk category sport in life insurance clauses. Even then I would still ride.

POTD

If you have to ask these questions, then maybe it's time to hang it up.
Let me tell you a little secret............Nobody gets out of here, alive.

Be as safe as you can, the rest is out of your control. Life insurance is good.

If Car and Driver published every automobile death, it would be the size of the NYC phonebook. Ride defensively (never assume the driver will do the "right" thing, for example, if I am passing a line pf parked cars, i always slow down, assuming someone is going to pull out or open a door), wear bright gear, signal your intent, and thank the good Lord that you can ride.....
B21

There is a wealth of data here, although most of it seems to be from the 1990s. http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm

I found this interesting:
The Most Common Causes of Cycling Fatalities
5.1% The bicyclist exited a driveway in front of an on-coming vehicle.
4.3% The bicyclist turned left in front of a passing vehicle.
3.9% The motorist was overtaking the bicyclist, cause of the accident unclear.
2.7% The bicyclist was struck while traveling on the wrong (left) side of the road.
1.4% The bicyclist, on the wrong side, turned right in front of a vehicle.
1.3% The motorist was overtaking the bicyclist and failed to see him.
1.2% The bicyclist lost control and swerved into the path of the vehicle.
.8% The bicyclist made a normal left turn but ignored on-coming traffic.
.6% The motorist lost control of the car and struck the bicyclist.
.5% The motorist struck a play vehicle (big wheel, bike with training wheels).

Also this:

These are the odds of dying in various vehicle collisions. If you are in a collision on your bike, your odds of getting killed are just about equal to your odds of getting killed if driving an SUV that crashes.

Odds of Death vs. Injury in Crashes by Vehicle
Vehicle Deaths Injuries Odds
Bus 17 17,000 1 in 1000
Car, Station Wagon 21,969 2,378,000 1 in 108
Pickup, SUV, Van 10,224 768,000 1 in 75
Bicycle 813 58,000 1 in 71
Large Truck 717 31,000 1 in 43
Motorcycle, Motorbike 2,106 54,000 1 in 26
On Foot 5,307 77,000 1 in 15
Data From NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 1997

http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/11065.0.html

This article made me second guess what I do as a hobby. I love cycling and couldn't imagine anything else replacing it. But reading the article made me wonder about the implications, the man died and left behind a wife and child...

I'd like to think that when I ride, I try to ride safely. I've been riding for over 2 years now and getting hit from behind is one of my greatest fears.

How do you guys go about this? What can I do to be even safer? Do the benefits of the sport outweight the risks involved?

just curious.

It's all about acceptable risk. Statistically, you're more likely to get killed in a regular old car accident, fall, drowning, or pedestrian accident.

I'm more likely to have a stroke then get hit by a car, so the benefit for me outweighs the risk. Just be aware and be visible

http://www.nsc.org/lrs/statinfo/odds.htm

There is a wealth of data here, although most of it seems to be from the 1990s.

http://www.kenkifer.com/death.htm

Tragically, Ken Kifer died on September 14, 2003 after being hit by a drunk driver just 6 miles from his home near Scottsboro, Alabama. He was 57.

Jimmy Don Rodgers, 29, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, was speeding as he drove his pickup truck south. Ken was riding his bicycle north. Rodgers hit Ken shortly before 8pm on Saturday, September 13. He died the next morning.

Rodgers had been released from jail just four hours before hitting Ken. He had been held for 12 hours on charges of DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and a violation of the open container law. He has been charged with murder.

Ride your bike
It is a trubute to Ken

BTW Rodgers pled guilty and got 20 years for killing Ken.

Also this:

These are the odds of dying in various vehicle collisions. If you are in a collision on your bike, your odds of getting killed are just about equal to your odds of getting killed if driving an SUV that crashes.

Odds of Death vs. Injury in Crashes by Vehicle
Vehicle Deaths Injuries Odds
Bus 17 17,000 1 in 1000
Car, Station Wagon 21,969 2,378,000 1 in 108
Pickup, SUV, Van 10,224 768,000 1 in 75
Bicycle 813 58,000 1 in 71
Large Truck 717 31,000 1 in 43
Motorcycle, Motorbike 2,106 54,000 1 in 26
On Foot 5,307 77,000 1 in 15
Data From NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 1997


wow on foot, 1in15!

Yep, keep in minds these are the odds you will die if you are injured in a collision using the various types of transport. So if you are walking, are hit by a car and are injured your chances of dying are 1 in 15.

wow on foot, 1in15!

I did not realize...what a tragedy.

http://www.kenkifer.com/death.htm

Tragically, Ken Kifer died on September 14, 2003 after being hit by a drunk driver just 6 miles from his home near Scottsboro, Alabama. He was 57.

Jimmy Don Rodgers, 29, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, was speeding as he drove his pickup truck south. Ken was riding his bicycle north. Rodgers hit Ken shortly before 8pm on Saturday, September 13. He died the next morning.

Rodgers had been released from jail just four hours before hitting Ken. He had been held for 12 hours on charges of DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and a violation of the open container law. He has been charged with murder.

Ride your bike
It is a trubute to Ken

BTW Rodgers pled guilty and got 20 years for killing Ken.

maclover, yours is a legitimate concern and simply saying we all die eventually and/or citing statistics regarding the odds of "Shuffling off this mortal coil" in different ways is absurd. Certainly cell phones, drunk driving, poor driving habits, poorly maintained vehicles, narrow roadways, etc., cause injury or death, but they are, to a large extent, manageable.

To increase safety and reduce risk, cyclists can choose their routes carefully, wear helmets, use rear view mirrors, wear brightly colored/reflective clothing, ride responsibly, improve their bike handling skills, make eye contact, mount blinking lights front & rear (Even on your fast bikes), organize & lobby for better designed roadways and dedicated bike lanes or paths, turn out in droves and demonstrate loudly when a cyclist is injured or killed, leave the portable music players at home, ride in pairs or groups when possible, let someone know where they'll be riding, walk their bikes when situations are dicey, etc.

I think about this from time to time.

What way would I rather expire? Dying because I'm an overweight, unhealthy
sack of fat with an overstressed heart or dying doing what I love due to an idiot
motorist?

I'd rather be in shape and live as much as I can in the time I have. I've spent
a lot of time on spinning bikes, MUTs and mountain bike trails but I have to
admit there's nothing like the open road.

I realize that distracted motorists using their cell phones (in some cases
text messaging while driving which is what killed Biker Billy), shaving,
putting on makeup, drinking coffee, fiddling with the radio or smoking or
just drunkenly/stonedly impaired - there's always going to be someone
who is "not right" to be driving and does anyway.

It pisses me off when I read about cyclists, especially longtime cyclists
who've been killed due to the negligence of others.

There's no easy answer, but I don't see myself stopping riding - I might
as well throw myself into traffic the day I stop riding or exercising since
it's the same symbolic act anyway.

i commute daily and i wear a helmet and i ride defensively. commuting is when i feel most vulnerable because i'm not exactly taking country roads, but i do choose roads that are less traveled. as the days get shorter my rides home often coincide with sunset so i've recently got a set of lights to prepare for it.

on my group and training rides, i feel safer because i'm in the country and there are other bikers out there with me... this is not to say that i'm immune out there though.

BTW, i'd rather not die of heart disease in front of the TV :)

When I'm on the bike, I am living. Sitting on a couch ain't living.



Well said. That should be a signature.

As I used to hear all the time when I rode motorcycles, "Ride as if everyone on the road was trying to kill you."

'Course that's a lot easier when you have a power to weight ratio superior to anything with four wheels... Doesn't really help us pedalers too much.

Maybe we should all just do as the snowbirds here do; ride the sidewalks! (Before I get hate mail, that was a joke)

Don't let someone's misfortune ruin your fun, as long you practice commun sence and stay safe, there is nothing to fear.

I have a T-shirt. As we all know, T-shirts and bumper stickers are gems of wisdom and a good way to find guidance and inspiration. T-shirt says something like "I don't intend to tiptoe carefully through life only to arrive safely at death" So when I choose to engage in an activity it is because it pleases me, so what if it's risky?

Related topic: Bike paths..they suck! I've had more close calls riding on dedicated bike paths than ever on roads and highways. Other users of bike paths, park roads, closed converted streets, etc..they seem to think.."Hey, closed to vehicle traffic...I don't have to think anymore.."

I had my worst-ever crash on one of our local converted roads, closed to vehicle traffic and used by walkers, runners, cyclists etc. There is no alternative route, except Interstate 84, to get through this section of the Columbia River Gorge, so on warm nice days during "Prime time" weekends, you can count on seeing all kinds of stupid selfish users doing unpredictable things here, thinking they are "out in the country..out of the crowd.." You get your dog owners with city dogs off the leash, dashing wildly around into everyone's path. You have familys with children, some on their first ever two wheeler ride. You have your broken glass, your cross streets and driveways, without any notice to either cars or path users, you get two way traffic that's using either side of the path..("no cars, I can do whatever I want..right?")

I was riding slowly along, trying to get from one rural road I like to another, on a Sunday during the summer. Almost garrotted myself on one of those retractable dog leashes already.

Came upon mommy, daddy and three kiddies..Total Yard Sale! Mommy and daddy had one junior in arms, consoleing him after he had tipped over off his bike. Their bikes were just laying right in the path, while there was lots of room on either side, off the path, to lay them..But no. The other two kiddies..one was standing right in the bike path, on his little bike and the other was throwing sticks for their golden retreiver.. "Uh oh," I think, "This could be dicey" so I slowed to about 4 mph and look directly at the kid who's in the center of the path, straddling his bike. He sees me and looks OK with the whole deal, so I decide to edge around him without getting off and walking my bike..Well, at the last second, Mommy sees me and !SCREECHES! at her kid, who promptly FREAKS! and jumps out of his bike, tossing it crosswise right into my front wheel..Ugg. Broke my wrist and my DeRosa fork and frame..Clueless mommy, she says "Oh, thats ok, you missed my kid, he's fine" and smiles nicely at me as I pick myself up and check my cracked helmet, then ride off on my broken frame, favoring my wrist...

And sadly, a few states have passed laws that say if there is a bike path available, the cyclists are forbidden from being on the road...

Don Hanson

I survived cancer this year. I will turn 5000 miles this year on Sunday, if the weather is good, next week sometime for sure. It was my goal before I got sick. I'm going to reach it despite the cancer and two surgeries.

I woke up today, rode to the restaurant and met some friends, rode a ways with them and then took off into the gusting wind myself. I rode on roads I've never been on. I met people at rest stops at the convenience stores in little towns along the way who laughed and joked with me that my motor wasnt big enough.

I finished with 75 miles. My face hurt from grinning so much. I'd missed the bike so much when I was sick.

At no time along the way did I have even a moment of thought that there was somewhere else I would rather be. And, if a car had taken me out, it couldn't have happened at a better moment. Ask me again if it's worth it.

Iceman

There's no easy answer, but I don't see myself stopping riding - I might
as well throw myself into traffic the day I stop riding or exercising since
it's the same symbolic act anyway.

Do you mind if I quote you in real life/in my sig/in random places?
-estone2

I may get hit the next time I ride, but until then, biking makes me a healthier, happier, calmer husband and father. That means that the time I am with my family is better. That makes it worth the risk.

Everything is in wifey name to make it easy for her if I get squashed on the road, plus she will collect a cool 1.37 mil if I check out. I have a living will and DNR (do not resuscitate) card that I carry with me when I'm "out there" because I refuse to live brain dead. Faith (religion) overcomes fear, I KNOW where I'm going when some old lady with blue hair takes me out, it's just a matter of time.............................

steppy