Main Cause of Cycling Accidents

[summerdays]

I took part in this survey earlier in the year and the results have just been published. It was asking questions about non collision accidents and collecting data.

The survey revealed that slipping on ice is the most common non-collision incident, being mentioned by 26% of respondents. The next most common incident noted was slipping on wet roads, with 8% of reported incidents occurring in these conditions. The results of Bristol’s survey are most relevant to those using their bikes to commute.

and

All road users are aware of the risks of a collision incident (striking another vehicle or person) but the research shows that cyclists are more likely to be involved in a non-collision incident - an incident that does not involve another road user. Cycling may be safer than people think it is. Over 70% of these non-collision incidents caused no injury.

Rob Benington, NHS Bristol’s injury prevention manager who conducted the research said: “I hope this research will help cyclists stay on their bikes. As a keen cyclist I was amazed that slipping on ice was by far the largest single cause: the finding helps put other hazards into perspective. While ice is not the only cause we need to consider, if we raise awareness as winter approaches cyclists can prepare to take appropriate action which will help keep us riding all year round.”

Given the expected weather conditions over the next couple of weeks ...

The full article is: http://www.betterbybike.info/study-reveals-main-cause-of-cyclists-accidents

 

[BentMikey]

Good, but this has been known for some time.

 

[gbb]

I dont think it hurts to remind people of the risks....most people don't think about it.

Talking to my son the other night...he said, i keep crashing into things lately (i know this because ive had to repair ...at my cost two bikes he's crashed in the last couple of years.

The thing is, he's a BOAB, not a serious cyclist. Reasons for crashing (Ice, concentration etc) don't even occur to him. He's meandering along in a world of his own...BANG...he's smacked into a post or similar.
I think thats true of most BOAB cyclists.

Similar story...bloke at works off with a broken collarbone. Riding home, he hit a road cone he hadnt seen (i thought the idea was you WOULD see them) Apparently he's always having accidents. His minds just not on the job in hand obviously.

I'd consider myself an enthusiast, i take my cycling seriously, more so that 90% of people i know.. Ive only crashed once through being stupid and having a laugh on a hybrid, and twice on ice in 30 years. Why ?...because i cycle very regularly, i take it seriously.....but obviously most people dont. Thats why they get into strife.

The next problem....if they're not interested in taking it seriously, they're never likely to read an article like this anyway.

 

[downfader]

I would agree that ice and wet roads are the biggest risk here too. Similar road layout to Bristol, lots of tight side roads, hills and bends near the coast..

I think its newbies that tend to suffer the most and treat icey conditions the same as they would a dry summer road. Its down to the more experienced to spread the "gospel" of knobbly/spikey tyres, and how to corner and brake safely.

 

[Fish on a bike]

I would say gravity is the biggest cause of accidents, I'm sure Cameron said they would repeal it if they got in

 

[downfader]

I would say gravity is the biggest cause of accidents, I'm sure Cameron said they would repeal it if they got in

Touche!

 

[subaqua]

nah its using cleated pedals for the first time in 20 years . twice in the first week .

 

[summerdays]

Whilst I would agree the vast majority of cyclists know that ice causes accidents, it is worth official statistics being gathered and published both so that cyclists can learn from it, but also because we can use it ourselves to say for example that they should be gritting the Bristol to Bath cycle path, because of the statistics THEY have collected.

 

[Jezston]

Similar story...bloke at works off with a broken collarbone. Riding home, he hit a road cone he hadnt seen (i thought the idea was you WOULD see them) Apparently he's always having accidents. His minds just not on the job in hand obviously.

Blimey. At least he's not in a car!

He ... he doesn't drive, does he?

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I've only ever come off twice in my adult life... both times due to a momentary lapse of concentration (for example I once looked down to see what was causing a noisy front derailleur, when I looked back up, the front wheel had just impacted the kerb enough to make it bouce away, propelling me forward onto the verge).

It seems I may be the man mentioned in gbb's post. Hopefully I've improved, it was some years ago.

 

[Tynan]

I've had some nasty moments on ice, fell once on wet cherry blossoms combined with a sudden front flat and a left turn

once messing up moving onto a cyclepath from the road

otherwise always in collision with a ped or a car, once a van

I nearly rode into cones two weeks ago, in the dark, sheer statistical risk considering the number around Stratford thatget moved every day and half of them out of line/knocked over

 

[buggi]

you need to make sure your TPS (Tarmac Proximity Sensor) is calibrated to the current time zone

 

[szygy]

My worst (no injury) non-collosion incident, I have to confess was me falling off my bike due to beer (and Jamesons) when I was at uni. I cant remember anything after getting back on my bike and continuing up the road with the range rover following from WAY behind me. Glad I lived to get my degree.
I have also come off by hitting sand at speed, but that was off-road and doesn't count.
I am intending to get some studded tyres next month to avoid loss of traction.

 

[andrew_s]

What comes to mind on a quick consider...
Pothole 4
Ice 4
distracted 3 loose gravel on a corner 2
kerb suck 2
frame shimmy (I think) 1

 

[summerdays]

Lets think...
Pothole 1 (broken arm)
Slippy road (mud) 1
Icy (very low speed 1
Distraction/fooling around 2