UK Study finds bike commuting is more dangerous

smorgasbord

smorgasbord

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Article on CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/health/cycling-to-work-benefits-injuries-wellness/index.html

They found that commuting by bike was associated with a 45% higher risk of admission to a hospital for an injury compared with other methods of commuting, and longer cycling distances were linked to a higher risk of injury. However, they found the health benefits of cycling were considerable, being linked to a lower risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and premature death.
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What we're saying is that if 1,000 people who don't currently cycle to work change their minds, on average over the next 10 years, we would see a total of 26 injuries that we would not have otherwise -- three of which would result in hospitalization of more than a week," said Paul Welsh, a senior lecturer at Institute of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences at Glasgow University. But, he added, "The benefit is 15 fewer cancers, four fewer heart attacks or stroke and three fewer deaths."
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steve mercier said:
Interesting perspective, but of the commuters who are traveling by mass transit ,how many will get the Covid 19? And how many will die?
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I've caught a cold on a local bus. I've caught a cold on Amtrak. I've caught a cold on an American airliner, unless I got it the first day in Paris on the subway. But 3 day rule indicates it was an airliner or airport. Bring back open windows transportation! Air conditioning/central heat is biological warfare against us Native Americans. My grandfather died of a bad cold age 44 in 1938. I've had pneumonia/bronchitis 25 or 30 times. Hooray for the pneumonia vaccine, no pneumonia since 2010. Still have plenty of colds & flu though. The droplet theory works only for Europeans/Asians/Africans. I can catch a respiratory disease standing in checkout line at a store, when nobody is coughing or sneezing. Caught a cold riding with someone in her car 3 weeks ago; she wasn't even sneezing or blowing her nose. She had just slept 8 hours a night previous. "I don't have a cold!", she insisted. I have European envy, except pedaling a bike 30 miles at age 69.
I'm staying home till middle of April. Hope I don't catch covid-19 walking around my yard. It's across the river in Louisville. At least I'm 40' away from the nearest house. Thank America for chlorinated city water. My grandmother was delerious with typoid fever 3 days in 1914, on well water.
 
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indianajo said:
I've caught a cold on a local bus. I've caught a cold on Amtrak. I've caught a cold on an American airliner, unless I got it the first day in Paris on the subway. But 3 day rule indicates it was an airliner or airport. Bring back open windows transportation! Air conditioning/central heat is biological warfare against us Native Americans. My grandfather died of a bad cold age 44 in 1938. I've had pneumonia/bronchitis 25 or 30 times. Hooray for the pneumonia vaccine, no pneumonia since 2010. Still have plenty of colds & flu though. The droplet theory works only for Europeans/Asians/Africans. I can catch a respiratory disease standing in checkout line at a store, when nobody is coughing or sneezing. Caught a cold riding with someone in her car 3 weeks ago; she wasn't even sneezing or blowing her nose. She had just slept 8 hours a night previous. "I don't have a cold!", she insisted. I have European envy, except pedaling a bike 30 miles at age 69.
I'm staying home till middle of April. Hope I don't catch covid-19 walking around my yard. It's across the river in Louisville. At least I'm 40' away from the nearest house. Thank America for chlorinated city water. My grandmother was delerious with typoid fever 3 days in 1914, on well water.
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Interesting stuff but how do you open the windows on a Boeing?
 
If your riding skills are above average, your risk will be lower. And that can be learned. Riding technique, location and timing are big factors.

I always recommend people take bike education classes if they want to bike daily.
 
steve mercier said:
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1227519511299084293
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The guy gave for sure that since the truck came from behind, he would have remember him..

Since it's us on the bike (vs vehicles), we shall be double careful in order to make up for others deficiencies.

The small truck, for example, was already half crossing the bike path right line, this might be a sign he may turn/approach the sidepath sooner or later

We know there are blind spots when we drive, that bike was probably in one of them (ironically riding on the left side of the bike path made it worst), this is also a sign. Moreover they drove "together" for some time, this can be also another sign to take care of.

Also, keep an eye on the brake lights (if possible) and fingers on the brakes in order to reduce your speed as much as possible and decrease any eventual damage in a crush
 
elect said:
The guy gave for sure that since the truck came from behind, he would have remember him..

Since it's us on the bike (vs vehicles), we shall be double careful in order to make up for others deficiencies.

The small truck, for example, was already half crossing the bike path right line, this might be a sign he may turn/approach the sidepath sooner or later

We know there are blind spots when we drive, that bike was probably in one of them (ironically riding on the left side of the bike path made it worst), this is also a sign. Moreover they drove "together" for some time, this can be also another sign to take care of.

Also, keep an eye on the brake lights (if possible) and fingers on the brakes in order to reduce your speed as much as possible and decrease any eventual damage in a crush
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Yeah, it's awful that we have to ride this way, and we shouldn't have to, but you can cut your risk by, in this instance:

1. Never ride side by side with cars and especially trucks - either you pass or they do
2. Look at where the driver is drifting to, where his wheels are pointing, his lateral direction of travel - you can often detect a turn from drivers long before they signal, if they signal at all. You'll get some false positives, but if you modulate your speed well, it doesn't slow you down much. Drivers may also swing in one direction to turn in the opposite direction, to make a wider, faster turn, eg in this case, swing right to make a wide, fast left.

Also if you do get into a situation like this, ideally you'd turn with the truck. Hard to control your instincts, but a lot easier than controlling how you fall which I always hear cyclists preaching about (and have never quite managed to do myself).
 
David Berry said:
Exercise from cycle commuting is good for you, accidents are not; therefore, improve cycling infrastructure.
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👍

I've had a lot of close calls but so far have escaped any collision. Last summer I was flying down this road in the direction the camera is facing.
www.google.com

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
www.google.com www.google.com
A gal in a sedan passed me on the left. The view is zoomed so if you zoom out you will be in the approximate position I was at when she passed me. She had to speed up to get past me but when she got to the point of the grey SUV making a right turn 47407 she stopped and was looking over her shoulder back towards me. I had more traffic to my left so all I could do was slam on the brakes. There were no cars in front of her, I think all she was doing was trying to see where I was but ended up blocking the entire bike lane.:rolleyes:

...some people shouldn't be allowed to drive...
 
"If your riding skills are above average, your risk will be lower"

I wish that were so, but whether or not you are killed or maimed on a bike is nearly always totally dependent on that loose nut behind the wheel of a car. Something every motorcyclist knows full well. You can do everything right and still be killed by someone careless or reckless in a car or truck. Trucks are the worst! Not them, their drivers.
 
Asher said:
If your riding skills are above average, your risk will be lower. And that can be learned. Riding technique, location and timing are big factors.

I always recommend people take bike education classes if they want to bike daily.
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Agreed! And no doubt that, just like driving, when you are commuting you are likely to take more risks (and be exposed to high volumes of other traffic among other factors) to get to your destination on time (work) vs when driving or riding for leisure.
 
steve marino said:
"If your riding skills are above average, your risk will be lower"

I wish that were so, but whether or not you are killed or maimed on a bike is nearly always totally dependent on that loose nut behind the wheel of a car. Something every motorcyclist knows full well. You can do everything right and still be killed by someone careless or reckless in a car or truck. Trucks are the worst! Not them, their drivers.
Click to expand...
I didn't worry about riding the streets so much until about 2 1/2 years ago. My wife was struck from behind in our car, stopped in a line of traffic at a red light. Once in Chicago, once here in Peoria. Both in an 18 month time span. In Chicago she was the second in line and pancaked a car between the distracted driver and my wife. Second time was just our car taking the impact from an uninsured motorist. Both times in the middle of the day, perfect weather. She was unhurt both times, but on a bicycle she would be dead. Especially in the first accident as the distracted driver was behind the wheel of a full size van. I use the same answer when riders say they are safer on their commute by exceeding the legal speed for eBikes. Nope, you can get killed standing at a traffic light!
 
steve marino said:
"If your riding skills are above average, your risk will be lower"

I wish that were so, but whether or not you are killed or maimed on a bike is nearly always totally dependent on that loose nut behind the wheel of a car. Something every motorcyclist knows full well. You can do everything right and still be killed by someone careless or reckless in a car or truck. Trucks are the worst! Not them, their drivers.
Click to expand...

It's a mix. You have control over where and when you ride, and those influence the probability of getting killed. Riding the wrong way is almost always a bad idea, for instance.

pxpaulx said:
Agreed! And no doubt that, just like driving, when you are commuting you are likely to take more risks (and be exposed to high volumes of other traffic among other factors) to get to your destination on time (work) vs when driving or riding for leisure.
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Yeah it's good to pad your commute time a little to avoid exactly that, cutting corners to make up time. Plus, slowing down at the end of your ride can significantly cut sweatiness when you arrive.
 
indianajo said:
I've caught a cold on a local bus. I've caught a cold on Amtrak. I've caught a cold on an American airliner, unless I got it the first day in Paris on the subway. But 3 day rule indicates it was an airliner or airport. Bring back open windows transportation! Air conditioning/central heat is biological warfare against us Native Americans. My grandfather died of a bad cold age 44 in 1938. I've had pneumonia/bronchitis 25 or 30 times. Hooray for the pneumonia vaccine, no pneumonia since 2010. Still have plenty of colds & flu though. The droplet theory works only for Europeans/Asians/Africans. I can catch a respiratory disease standing in checkout line at a store, when nobody is coughing or sneezing. Caught a cold riding with someone in her car 3 weeks ago; she wasn't even sneezing or blowing her nose. She had just slept 8 hours a night previous. "I don't have a cold!", she insisted. I have European envy, except pedaling a bike 30 miles at age 69.
I'm staying home till middle of April. Hope I don't catch covid-19 walking around my yard. It's across the river in Louisville. At least I'm 40' away from the nearest house. Thank America for chlorinated city water. My grandmother was delerious with typoid fever 3 days in 1914, on well water.
Click to expand...
Excuse my ignorance but I just don't know.

Are you saying that you can more easily catch a respiratory disease because of Native American physiology, or is it something related to you as an individual. If the former, I wasn't aware of that.
 
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