How dangerous is biking?

This is a very timely topic for those of us here in Charlotte. This past weekend was the MS 150 ride. A family was hit on the ride by a truck and the 15 year old daughter died. Most of my close friends were on this event.

Hmm? Fact #1 A member named Amanda Fact #2 A member with a breaststroking avatar Fact #3 A member who is from Tucson, Az. What could this swimmer's last name be?

Originally posted by lefty Road biking is simply dangerous. Blaming the cyclist is like blaming the wind for a trapeze accident. You road bike long enough, you WILL get injured. I do not agree with this at all. The route I take to the gym every morning at 5:30 am is also popular with cyclists. I am a big believer in sharing the road and I go out of my way to be courteous and treat cyclist as regular traffic. But, well over half the cyclists either wear zero reflective clothing or have lights that are half burnt out. I have seen on numerous occasions a group of riders blow through stop lights. I have had cyclists repeatedly go around me while I'm stopped for a left turn on red.

First of all the majority of cyclist injuries from cars comes from (1) the red neck pickup drivers who can't turn the steering wheel a 1/8" to avoid a cyclist because their fat ugly gut is in the way (2) the soccer moms with a latte between their legs and the cell phone up their rear end and (3) Canadians who are completely in a mental fog about US driving regulations with regards to cyclist on the road or more likely stoned on Couver Gold. There are two ways to ride a bike on most rural roads with limited or no shoulders. First one and most dangerous is to stay on the shoulder line. Everyone of the above three driver types will come within 3" of you. Second, get out in road where the auto passenger tire would normally be. Force the autos to move around you. If they come to close you can bail into the shoulder. Always wear a rear view mirror on your glasses ($10), you can tell when trouble is coming usually. Take a cell phone along, and if possible bike with a group or partner. Pickup trucks you can smell , Soccer moms will be in Chrysler Minivans, and Canadians will have a picture of a weed on their licence plate.

Road biking is simply dangerous. Blaming the cyclist is like blaming the wind for a trapeze accident. You road bike long enough, you WILL get injured.

Originally posted by lefty Road biking is simply dangerous. Blaming the cyclist is like blaming the wind for a trapeze accident. You road bike long enough, you WILL get injured. You are correct to a certain extent...however, a cyclist that does not wear reflective clothing, rides on the lane line, and does not adhere to traffic signals is placing him/herself at much greater risk. If I hit a cyclist in an intersection because he/she failed to stop at the red light is that his fault or just an inevitable side effect of cycling?

You're right Matt there are obvious situations when the cyclist is at fault. And the sky is blue accept when it is raining.

Matt, If a cyclist is biking at or near the fog line, you are required by law to slow down, and stay behind the cyclist until you can pass safely (a minimum of 3 ft is required by some municipalities- more is better). If you remain in "your" lane, and an accident occurs, you are legally at fault (not that it does the cyclist any good at this point). Please drive and bike with consideration for others.

FWIW, most of my cycling injuries were self-inflicted with no one else involved. Usually involves catapulting onto one or the other hip or sliding out on a wet turn. I can't imagine the additional pain and recovery time a vehicle would add to the equation. A road racer told me once that it's like a football coach being fired, you're either about to fall or you just got up from one. Getting killed doesn't compare - I hope we learn to be more patient and watchful, but what to do about "the other person" who won't? DV

As a cyclist, I have to say that it is always important to ride defensively. I've had drivers go out of their to endanger me, had things thrown at and be hit by them, and, ofcourse, been yelled/honked at for no apparent reason. You can't assume that everyone is aware of you as you ride and for that matter, is willing to share the road, or even the world, with you. All that aside, I will continue to ride, albeit cautiously.