Comments on: Cycling: Safer than you think

By: RocBike.com | The RocBike Review » Links Of The Day: 17 October 2007

RocBike.com | The RocBike Review » Links Of The Day: 17 October 2007 — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:40:19 +0000

[...] Cycling: Safer than you think [...]

By: Richard Masoner

Richard Masoner — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:10:19 +0000

Yes, there is a sad irony in Kifer’s death. Note, however, that “safe” drivers are killed everyday on American highways, but almost nobody gives a thought to the risks in driving a car. We just grab the keys and go. For some reason, though, every bike trip is an exercise in risk management although the real risks aren’t that much worse.

By: bob

bob — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:44:58 +0000

It’s know it’s no laughing matter… but surely you can see the irony of an article titled “Cycling: Safer than you think” and a link to a resource whose author is now dead because he was run over while cycling. Somehow I don’t feel so safe anymore.

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:02:51 +0000

Similar experiences here, tho’ I have “never always” gotten the “get on the sidewalk” thing; just once or twice a year (and it’s been longer than a year, now…) but I do feel like my Xtra is more welcome than my Trek.

By: Quinn

Quinn — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:35:55 +0000

With that said, I have commuted on a 26″ hardtail, 29er and a ‘cross bike, and as soon as I started commuting on my ‘cross bike, I noticed that I was treated different, on different bikes. on my 26″ I always got the “wTF, get on the sidewalk”, on my 29er, I didn’t get much flack, on the cross bike people expect me to be on the road.

By: Fritz

Fritz — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:01:59 +0000

Thanks for dropping by, Mr Brown. it should be noted that the safety stats are for U.S. cycling and transportation. Much of the information also translates well for Canada and the UK and probably some other locations. I don’t know what the legal status of cycling is in Singapore, so I can’t comment on how to ride safely there.

Quinn, your experience matches mine and that of many other cyclists on the road.

By: mb

mb — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:51:12 +0000

I have a reader who left this comment on my blog after I posted something related to cycling safety, at this post:

http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2007/10/sfpd-bicycle-sa.html

“Just as it is harmless to start a Salman Rushdie Fan Club in Vancouver but is suicidal to do the same in Tehran, whether bicycling is dangerous or not depends on the geographical location.

Brian Sorrell lives in Southern California, where so many roads have bike lanes it’s nearly always possible to get from point A to point B without having to compete for space with vehicular traffic. Perhaps more importantly, American drivers are civil and considerate enough to give way to bikers. If you get hit by a car while cycling in America, you can sue the driver’s auto-insurance provider for millions of dollars — accident attorneys will offer their services free-of-charge in return for a portion of the damages awarded to you.

You, on the other hand, live in Singapore — where everything is weighted against the cyclist.”

Sigh.

By: Quinn

Quinn — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:54:55 +0000

I totally agree with Alan, that the cyclist can control more than they think. I thing that I have always relied on is that a bike is Way more agile and can stop faster than a motor vehicle, I use this knowledge to keep safe when navigating traffic.(ie- traffic accident 2 cars ahead or The Granny or the wrong way moron)

Also one new thing for me(now that I have a road bike) I am following the law(ie bike=car), There are Soo many drivers that don’t know how to drive around a cyclist acting like a cyclist, so I do my best to act like a car, I was suprised at the difference, rather than getting buzzed by or honked at, cars treat me like a car.