Cycling is often perceived as a dangerous activity; part of the problem is that cycling on roads is often a less than pleasant activity because you can feel the potential for serious accidents. However, it is a shame because the risks of cycling are often exaggerated and there are of course many benefits
Some Basic Cycling Statistics
- The number of cyclists killed on British roads in 2007 was 136.
- The total number of people killed in road traffic accidents was 3,172 people.
- The number of people who died of heart disease in the UK was 70,000
Risk Decreases the More People Cycle.
Cities with a higher density (%) of people cycling have lower mortality rates. For example, in 1994, London had 19 fatal cycling accidents. In 2007, the number of cycle journeys had increased 91%, yet, fatalities fell to 16. This is a small sample, but, it suggests that as more people cycle, motorists adjust their behaviour to compensate for the increase in number of cyclists.
- In countries like the Netherlands, where cycling takes more than 30% of all journey, fatalities are a much smaller %.
- The UK sees less than half the cycling fatalities per 100,000 people than in Germany. However, Germans make five times as many journeys by bike as Britons. [BBC]
Cycling vs Other Forms of Transport
| Odds of Death vs. Injury in Crashes by Vehicle | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Deaths | Injuries | Odds |
| Bus | 17 | 17,000 | 1 in 1000 |
| Car, Station Wagon | 21,969 | 2,378,000 | 1 in 108 |
| Pickup, SUV, Van | 10,224 | 768,000 | 1 in 75 |
| Bicycle | 813 | 58,000 | 1 in 71 |
| Large Truck | 717 | 31,000 | 1 in 43 |
| Motorcycle, Motorbike | 2,106 | 54,000 | 1 in 26 |
| On Foot | 5,307 | 77,000 | 1 in 15 |
| Data From NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 1997 | |||
I have seen various different data on the risk of cycling. But, this seems a comprehensive study about the relative dangers of different types of transport. Cycling is more dangerous than driving a car or going by bus. But, it is less dangerous than pedestrians. [link]
Health Benefits of Cycling
Although cycling incurs a certain risk, it is definitely worth mentioning the advantage of cycling in improving fitness. Cycling helps to improve aerobic fitness and reduce obesity. This makes a significant contribution to reduce heart disease and other obesity related diseases. The number of deaths from heart disease in the UK is a staggering 70,000 a year. This easily dwarves the fatalities of cycling (126). Whilst a cycling accident makes a newsworthy story, a heart attack doesn’t. But, it is important to weigh up the benefits as well as the cost. Yet, in deciding whether to cycle or drive, most people tend to focus on the dangers.
Related
- Cycle safety
- Cycling Dangers – perceived and Real
- Safety accessories at Evans Cycles
- Cycle Death Rates by Country
- Deaths of Cyclists in London at BMJ
- Cyclists live longer at Dave Moulton’s blog
You must have a look at this link on the BBC website today (1/2/11) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12334486
One of the biggest threats to cyclists is potholes. They damage cycles and cyclists, and they force you to swerve in front of traffic/pedestrians at the last moment and make you focus on the area of the road immediately in front of you, when you need and should have a greater perspective of road and traffic conditions.
Most councils don’t do enough because it will only become cost effective for them to repair the roads properly when compensation claims exceed the cost of repairs.
I am a keen cyclist but I am sorry to say that this article is just very poor propaganda. As others have mentioned, the statistics bear little or no relationship to each other.
Furthermore to compare the UK with the Netherlands is like comparing chalk and cheese. The Nederlands have invested widely in cyle lanes and not of the very poor type found in the UK which are on the same piece of tarmac as the car only separated by a painted line…that’s great protection isn’t it?
The clear facts are that cycling is an increasingly dangerous activity overall for two main reasons -
1. Car drivers are becoming increasingly distracted and not really bothered about how they drive and what the conseqences are. Hitting another car is bad enough but survivable. Hitting an unprotected cyclist or pedestrian is almost sure to be a disaster…for the one being hit.
2. Cyclists are increasingly becoming unthoughtful and uncaring towards other cyclists, pedestrians and also make a big nuisance of themselves to car drivers, many flouting rules such as cycling through traffic lights, not having lights on their bikes, etc. Of course far from everyone, but more and more.
This silly bit of PR above really treats people as naive children and it should be replaced with something more realistic that promotes the benefits of cycling but gives some meaningful statistics and advice on how cyclists should behave and what measures they should take to make themselves more visible and careful to avoid careless and negligent drivers who will continue do whatever they do regardless of whatever advice is dished out to them.
I’m so glad somebody did point out that those statistics are actually irrelevant. They are not correctly correlated to each other. I cycle the streets of Johannesburg S.A.
It’s so insanely dangerous that I am usually adrenalised for most of any given distance.
Let’s face it. When people climb into cars something happens to them and they no longer treat people who are not in cars with the same level of respect. As if they sort of ‘become the machine.’
Let’s start a petition to ban cars. Just see, how many people could we get?
Great article. You’re right about people tending to focus on the dangerous aspects of cycling. I’ve been cycling for over thirty years without any real problems. I’ve fallen off my bike a few times because of ice, but I knew the risks before I set off knowing there was ice about.
There’s a risk eliment ineverything we do, you can’t eliminate risk totally, it’s a part of life. Cycling is really no more dangerous than other every day human activities.
These numbers are fairly meaningless, as there are far less people cycling than driving/being passenger of a car.
What we need to know are accidents per cyclist and per car occupant, or per distance travelled.
it’s a very interesting statistics.Here in Russia we have a copy-cat situation.Only much-more motorists,and far-less cyclist.It’s true,’car-owners’ spoils your day.
It’s a very intresting statistics.Here in Russia we have allmost a copy- cat problem. Only much more less cyclist and far-above motorists.In such numbers as today they are the absolute Evil. They\’car-owners’\ spoils your day. Smoking and Fat!
I would say that the more cyclists there are, the less likely you are to be killed or injured if you cycle. The reason being that drivers tend to modify their behaviour the more cyclists there are.
Also, I am guessing that the mortality rate among cyclists is probably caused by collision with a car or some other vehicle, rather than collision with another cyclist.
Cars are the real menace rather than bicycles.
cycling , its not dangerous its just the lunatics in cars who make it so!!!!
Ahhh, just scrolled down and saw precisely where they are from!!
Your statistics make interesting reading. Where are they from? it does put things into a healthy perspective. Thank you