Safe to saddle up

If you need a little convincing that cycling to work really is a good idea, take comfort in this article by Grist (one of my favourite sources of eco news and commentary, albeit with an American slant) that claims biking is safer than it used to be. The health benefits massively outweigh the risks, says the writer.

And if it’s getting safer in the States, where the motorcar rules, it must be alright for us Brits. Various arguments are aired, including one that suggests since cycling in cities is considered dangerous, those who do it are risk-takers and therefore accidents are likely to be higher than normal among the cycling population.

There are also some statistics on fatalities per million hours of activity. They conclude that cycling is only a fraction more dangerous than taking an airplane. On second thoughts, I’m not sure whether that is comforting or not. 

Anyway, it’s a good time of year to flag up the benefits since it is becoming harder to saddle up in the mornings as temperatures drop. By November, I’ll be fearing for the tips of my fingers. Last year, I had a terrific response to a post I did about how to make cycling in winter bearable.

Then again, lots of keen cyclists I know say that cycling in winter is better than in summer; less sweaty, less people and somehow it commands more respect. That’s what I tell myself, anyway, as I pedal off in the morning, desperately trying to get my limbs warmed up.

Comments

[Neil]

As I understand it the UK data shows that cycling is roughly as safe as walking - i.e. pretty safe. I believe it was slightly safer than walking when measured per mile, slightly less safe when measured per trip.

Sorry, Haven't got a reference to hand. Bad etiquette I know.

Assuming that data is correct, it would seem most of the "danger" of cycling is perceived danger or comes from near misses.

[Captain Archie]

I work in casualty, or A&E to HNS managers or ED to the new speak people

Cyclists suffer very very nasty injuries car drivers just loose some paint.

conversely pedestrians do not suffer the same fractures as cyclists; both are occasionally terminated by idiots with motors; but as a former cyclist between 2 hospitals on-call (until the conservatives closed one)

It has become evidently MORE dangerous, with two cyclists actually killed on the Hospital roundabout.

I now drive a car and stop for every child, mother with children and cyclist I can find.

I get yelled and hooted at by the smug inpatient middle-class BMW drivers; which I enjoy immensely.

Only last week, both the pensioner with the frame crossing the road and I were able to give the victory sign to one such type in an oversized chelsea tractor. Such fun can't be bought.