Printable View
The Economist had a short article about bike safety in the US, relative to Europe. The lede is a shocking fact: "Dying while cycling is three to five times more likely in America than in Denmark, Germany or the Netherlands."
Here is the link:
http://www.economist.com/node/21528302
Interesting. As for the statistics, I wonder where we land in deaths per capita? The population of the U.S. is larger than any one of the countries we're compared to.
Thanks for posting the article, very interesting stats about speed and the relationship between mph and likleyhood of death. Chilling actually to read that 85% of the time a person is struck at 40 mph or over leads to death.
I live near and cycle in and around Portland. It may be a little more bike friendly, but there is a continued need for enforcement and traffic calming techniques.
Well, I guess I am dead. Some of the roads I ride on are 55mph, you know people are driving more like 65. Thankfully I stick to roads that see fewer than 10 cars per hour.
Definitely very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I agree that it's scary to know that at 40+ mph you're pretty much a goner. I too ride on roads with high speed limits - often 70+ (and in west Texas that means 8- mph+). Luckily when I commute in the morning the majority of it is through a nice little neighborhood and I only have to ride on a 45mph road for a little bit. But then again, I'm pretty fearless.