When to call it a day?
- Thread starter Milzy
- Start date
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Punkawallah
Veteran
According to the UK Government, over half the cyclist deaths on roads do not involve another vehicle. Half of fatal/serious collisions due to ‘aggressive/dangerous/reckless’ behaviour involved another bicycle. Four fifth of these did not involve another vehicle. Overall, cycling accidents are declining.
Perhaps there is nothing to fear but fear itself?
https://www.gov.uk/government/stati...s-in-great-britain-pedal-cycle-factsheet-2024
Perhaps there is nothing to fear but fear itself?
https://www.gov.uk/government/stati...s-in-great-britain-pedal-cycle-factsheet-2024
- Location
- Inside my skull
- Location
- Inside my skull
I would be wary of first two stats. If the only witness is the driver who hit them. The third is interesting as that is exactly what cycle tracks do, particularly if they switch from one side of road to the other. Better to just stay on road than hop off and on the parallel cycle track on the pavement.
Interestingly the latest Stats19 and RoadCasualty stats were published just this last week https://www.gov.uk/government/stati...alties-great-britain-provisional-results-2025
cyclists had the largest rise in total casualties (KSI) of all road user types, increasing by 10% to 16,027 within the last year. Placing it above motorcycle casualties (KSI) at 15,442.
So if you believe totally in the stats, its safer to ride a motorcycle than a pedal cycle...though you stand more chance of a fatality in a crash, but cyclist fatalities only dropped by 1 over the year, and its still more than 1 cyclist per week that is killed/dies on our roads.
cyclists had the largest rise in total casualties (KSI) of all road user types, increasing by 10% to 16,027 within the last year. Placing it above motorcycle casualties (KSI) at 15,442.
So if you believe totally in the stats, its safer to ride a motorcycle than a pedal cycle...though you stand more chance of a fatality in a crash, but cyclist fatalities only dropped by 1 over the year, and its still more than 1 cyclist per week that is killed/dies on our roads.
Punkawallah
Veteran
On the bald figures, perhaps. Read a piece recently where it was pointed out that, rather than ‘deaths per miles travelled’, ‘deaths per hour of road use’ would be more relevant. A motor cyclist might spend an hour on the roads to travel 60 miles, a pedal cyclist ten hours, and a pedestrian four days. The pedestrian would be exposed to risk of accidental death for the longest time (assuming using roads is hazardous).
SteveH80
Well-Known Member
Re stats and road casualties
From what I'm seeing (so this is anecdotal and based on country roads not towns and cities) those stats don't surprise me at all. Most road users are sensible but there are a lot of lemmings out there and the more vunerable you are the more likely you are to be a statistic.
With motorbikes it's often that testosterone thing and riding beyond their abilities, with cyclists it's poor observation and the assumption it is everybody else's responsibility to keep them safe - legally it might be but that's cold comfort when you're in a ditch.
Keep safe everyone regardless of how you're travelling.
From what I'm seeing (so this is anecdotal and based on country roads not towns and cities) those stats don't surprise me at all. Most road users are sensible but there are a lot of lemmings out there and the more vunerable you are the more likely you are to be a statistic.
With motorbikes it's often that testosterone thing and riding beyond their abilities, with cyclists it's poor observation and the assumption it is everybody else's responsibility to keep them safe - legally it might be but that's cold comfort when you're in a ditch.
Keep safe everyone regardless of how you're travelling.
- Location
- Inside my skull
Steady on, motorcyclists were the only ones who saw an increase in fatalities. Plus car occupants and motorcyclists, make up by far the biggest proportion of fatalities followed by pedestrians and cyclists.
You can paint a picture many ways with statistics. I have seen in previous outputs that motorcyclists have about 10 times the risk of a serious accident per mile compared to cyclists.
I have just read of another cyclist killed in a collision with tractor which is terrible, but what is absolutely appalling were the comments. This was a face book page of North Yorkshire radio station.
Clearly no one knows what happened at this stage but those pointing the blame at the cyclist were unbelievable.
What happened to seeing people as people.
Clearly no one knows what happened at this stage but those pointing the blame at the cyclist were unbelievable.
What happened to seeing people as people.
ironically enough on this very thread I posted about how I was really close passed by a tractor(like REALLY dangerously close) and the response on here was I should have pulled over!
Many drivers do not see cyclists as people.
I cannot fathom the disconnect but this is bourne out by comments on every instance, on every forum/post/webpage...
Surely you must think the cyclist should have pulled over for a relaxing drink rather than be in the right and 6 feet under?
You’ve not read my earlier posts on the subject, have you?
Completely irrelevant to my post this morning though.
Yes I have and yes my comment above is a bit glib but you said exactly that when I posted about being close passed or have you forgotten?
And it's not irrelevant it's entirely the same.
Anyway. End of discussion for me, I'd rather not get into yet another to and fro. I'm out for a ride, hopefully a non eventful one.
Punkawallah
Veteran
I suspect the problem -is- seeing people as people. It takes effort for us not to be absolute villeins, and the expectation could be that others are.
