Bicycle Safety

Bicycling is a common means of transportation as well as an increasingly popular source of recreation, exercise, and sport.

• Along with increased use of bicycles comes the risk of significant injuries. Injuries attributable to bicycling range from common abrasions, cuts, and bruises to broken bones, internal injuries, head trauma, and even death.
•  From a statistical standpoint, bicycle riding has a higher death rate per trip or per mile of travel than being a passenger in an automobile.
• The most common cause of bicycle crashes is due to falls or collisions with stationary objects. Collisions involving motor vehicles account for most of all bicycle-related deaths and  some nonfatal injuries. The majority of these bicycle deaths are caused by head injuries.

• Bicycling training: The best preparation for safe bicycle riding is proper training.
  • Common resources include an experienced rider, parent, or community program.
  • Initial training often involves simple instruction from parents on balance and pedaling.
  • Proper supervision of younger riders is a prerequisite. It is recommended that younger children ride only in enclosed areas.
• Bicycle safety equipment: Investment in safety equipment such as protective clothing and a helmet can prevent a significant number of injuries.
  • Helmets are extremely important. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by 85%, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
  • Reflective clothing for nighttime or low-visibility conditions
  • Bicycle reflectors on frame and wheels
  • Proper bicycle selection
  • Bicycle maintenance
• Bicycling safety guidelines: Consideration of these tips can further reduce the risk of a bicycle accident.
  • Use a bicycle only in a way that is appropriate for the age of the rider.
  • Be aware of the need for experience and skill before bicycling on public roads.
  • Less experienced bicyclists should be educated about the rules of the road.
  • Be aware of the understanding among bicyclists and motorists about sharing the road.
  • Promote and ensure safe motorist and bicyclist practices (proper speed, yielding right-of-way, not driving or riding while under the influence of alcohol or drugs). In some states in the U.S. it is illegal to ride a bicycle under the influence of alcohol and may lead to a BUI (bicycling under the influence).
  • Teach increased awareness of surroundings. (Beware of opening car doors, sewer gratings, debris on roads, uneven surfaces, poorly lit areas.)
• Obey traffic rules
  • Cyclists must follow the same rules as motorists. Use correct hand signals before turning.
  • Because we all share the same road, obeying the rules of the road allow for an enjoyable and safe ride for both bicyclists and motorists.
• Ride in single file with traffic, not against it.
• Avoid major roads and sidewalks.
• Announce your presence ("On your left") on bike and walking trails as you come up behind and pass pedestrians and other riders.
• Enforcement and legislation can increase bicycle safety.
  • Mandating use of protective devices (helmets, reflectors): Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have helmet laws requiring young bicyclists to wear helmets.
  • Bicycle-friendly community and community planning, for example, establishing bicycle lanes and bike trails or rails-to-trails programs.

• Most bicycle accidents occur when a cyclist falls or crashes into a stationary object. Crashes are more likely to occur when adverse conditions occur related to:
  • Weather
  • Road conditions
  • Mechanical failure
  • Poor rider judgment
    • Excessive speed
    • Lack of attention
    • Breach of traffic regulations
    • Coordination problems
  • Inexperience
• Although the rules of the road and right of way are the same for both cyclists and motorists, other factors contribute to the disharmony that can occur between the two groups.
  • Many motor vehicle drivers are often simply not aware of the presence of a cyclist on the road.
  • In low-visibility conditions or at night, bicyclists are difficult to see. The use of reflectors and a bicycle headlight gives you greater visibility to vehicle drivers.
• Problems with alcohol can contribute to accidents.
  • Inappropriate alcohol use is not limited to motorists (as mentioned previously, in some U.S. states, it is illegal to bicycle under the influence and may result in a BUI).
  • A significant percentage of traffic crashes that resulted in deaths of bicycle riders involved alcohol intoxication by the motorist or the bicyclist.
  • In less than half of all bicycle-related fatalities, it is the bicyclist who was intoxicated, not the motorist.
  • Helmet use decreases among intoxicated drivers, according to a 2001 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
• Nearly one-third of bicycle crashes occur when a bicyclist is riding against oncoming traffic.
• Many people assume bicycle riding on sidewalks is safer than on roads. However, the risk of injury increases significantly if you ride on sidewalks.
  • This may be due to the presence of pedestrians and stationary objects (parking meters, for example) lining sidewalks as well as a preference by inexperienced bicyclists to use sidewalks for bicycle travel.
  • Another common scenario involves children, who generally are experienced riders. They tend to crash while riding a bicycle for the first time or while riding a bike they are unfamiliar with.

• Most bicycle injuries occur to boys aged 10-14 years.
• Although safety education often focuses on children, older bicyclists must remember that a majority of bicycle deaths involve adults.
• Men account for most bicycle deaths.

• In analyzing who is at fault for a collision, officials found the bicyclist responsible in half the cases and the motorist responsible in about one-third. The remaining cases were attributed to both parties.
• Younger cyclists who are not familiar with rules of the road are far more likely to cause and be involved in a serious accident. Some advocate that children younger than eight years of age should not be allowed to ride a bicycle on public roads.
• Statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reveal that most bicycle deaths occur from June through September, and between the hours of 6-9 p.m.
  • The risk of sustaining an injury in non-daylight conditions is four times greater than during daytime.
  • Nearly half of bicycle-motor vehicle crashes occurred at night or during low-light conditions when motorists had trouble seeing cyclists.
  • Bicycle deaths occur almost equally throughout the weekdays and weekends.
  • More bicyclists are killed in urban areas than rural areas.
  • Sixty percent of bicycle deaths in 2006 occurred on major roads
  • One-third of bicycle deaths occurred at intersections.
  • One-third of bicyclist fatalities occur on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or higher.
  • Typically, bicycle-motorist crashes occur within one mile of the bicyclist's home.

Physical overuse can also cause bicycle injuries. These injuries can be prevented by proper selection of the bicycle, adjustment of the bicycle to the individual rider, proper maintenance, and common sense in how the bicycle is used.

• Appropriately-sized frames, handlebar and seat heights as well as understanding of gear systems help reduce injuries.
• Drinking enough fluids, stretching, and routine scheduled activity can help avoid potential injuries related to overuse.

Perhaps the easiest step a rider can take to prevent bicycle-related injury and death is to wear a helmet. Unfortunately, many riders disregard this, placing themselves at great risk.

• Mandatory helmet laws have been shown to increase helmet use, which reduces significantly the incidence and severity of head injuries.
  • Mandatory use of helmets has proven to reduce severe injuries by almost 85% in addition to cutting the number of bicycle-related fatalities.
  • Children wear a protective helmet almost twice as much as adults, probably due to parental insistence. Nevertheless, younger children have a higher proportion of head injuries than older children.
  • A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration poll reported that 50% of bicyclists wear a helmet for at least some trips, with 35% using them for all or most trips.
  • The majority of bicyclists report wearing a helmet for safety reasons - a majority because of insistence of a parent or spouse and some because of laws, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  • Helmets must be used whenever riding a bicycle! Children should be monitored to be certain that they do not avoid helmet use because of peer pressure.
  • It is important that the helmet fits properly and is worn correctly. A proper fit helps a bicyclist realize the full benefit of helmet use. A poorly fitting helmet provides significantly less protection.
• Currently, only 21 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring helmet use by young bicyclists.
  • Local communities have enacted ordinances mandating use of helmets while bicycling.
  • There is added benefit for all helmet owners: helmets can be used during other activities with a potential for head injury, such as riding scooters and skateboards as well as participating in water sports.
• Nevertheless, most bicyclists killed in 2006 were reportedly not wearing a protective helmet.
• It is estimated that a majority of bicycle-related head injury deaths could be prevented by the use of a protective helmet.

• Bicycle riding has evolved from a mode of transportation to a widely enjoyed hobby and recreational sport. Off-road riding and racing has increased in popularity over the past decade.
• The majority of off-road injuries involve cuts and scrapes to the arms and legs. However, off-road or all-terrain cyclists sustain more severe injuries - such as fractures and dislocations - than road cyclists.
• Off-road cyclists are more likely to wear a protective helmet and therefore less likely to have face and head injuries.