Why does cycling have a 'high' risk rating? or does it?

[GrumpyGregry]

So riding a bike anywhere near you is dangerous, especially fixed

Back to the OP.

Better to burn out than to fade away !

In all my days, I've never off'ed anyone else. Misdirected them off a small cliff, yes, run over them, including #1 son, after they've fallen off, yes, but off'ed, never. (so far)

 

[Boris Bajic]

In all my days, I've never off'ed anyone else. Misdirected them off a small cliff, yes, run over them, including #1 son, after they've fallen off, yes, but off'ed, never. (so far)

I once took a massive pothole at speed, causing my son to be catapaulted out of the saddle of the tag-along.

In the couple of seconds it took me to realise what had happened, he refused to let go, hung onto the bars and ran himself over.

I look after my kids.

 

[VamP]

I once took a massive pothole at speed, causing my son to be catapaulted out of the saddle of the tag-along.

In the couple of seconds it took me to realise what had happened, he refused to let go, hung onto the bars and ran himself over.

I look after my kids.

I have done the very self same thing! It's kinda a tag-along rite of passage. As is the subtly altered re-telling when explaining the bruises and cuts to the lad's mother

 

[Boris Bajic]

I have done the very self same thing! It's kinda a tag-along rite of passage. As is the subtly altered re-telling when explaining the bruises and cuts to the lad's mother

She was riding behind us, yelling "He's fallen off!"

A couple of years later, when the victim was self-powered, we went on a family ride with his younger bro' on the Tag-Along.

After a short break by the roadside, I pedalled off without him.

I look after my kids....

 

[lukesdad]

Now you ve got me concerned ! This loved ones perception of cycling that is. Lukesmum has always smiled and waved me off with " have a good ride " Ive never thought to ask her if she thought cycling was risky

 

[Boris Bajic]

Only today I've had it suggested to me that my probability of being hit by a car is 35% and that is every day.

That figure is probably right and you're probably lucky to still be here.

I hope you wear a helmet!!!!!!!!!!

 

[smutchin]

Does the loin-cloth of righteousness protect your helmet?

d.

 

[Red Light]

Evaluating and controlling risks is a learned skill so newer cyclists, especially in London get it tough.

They seem to do it much better than experienced cyclists in London. Boris Bikes: no serious injuries in 9 million journeys. London bikes in total: ~14 serious injuries per 9 million journeys.

 

[slowmotion]

They seem to do it much better than experienced cyclists in London. Boris Bikes: no serious injuries in 9 million journeys. London bikes in total: ~14 serious injuries per 9 million journeys.

I wonder what the figures would be if they were expressed as serious injuries per thousand miles. I'm guessing that the average Boris trip is a whole lot shorter than the average non-Boris one.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

They seem to do it much better than experienced cyclists in London. Boris Bikes: no serious injuries in 9 million journeys. London bikes in total: ~14 serious injuries per 9 million journeys.

You mention London's Boris bikes statistics a lot. We don't have anything similar here in Glasgow, could I compare the Boris bike trips to a ride in town here? Lots of traffic lights, some cycling lanes, busy but slow motion. Yes, of course, even an off should not cause serious injuries, unless it's just your bad luck.
I live on the outskirts of town: on exiting my cul de sac I have to enter a dual carriage road, speed cameras on it, they are going fast!
Are my chances of a fatal accident not higher on that road?
Self preservation makes me go a roundabout way, unless it's 6am on a Sunday morning
Everything in life is risky, some people/cyclists/drivers like to take their chances, some like to play it safe. On assessing a risk, I really prefer to use my brain rather than rely on statistics. If disaster still strikes, oh well, at least I tried my best to avoid it.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I wonder what the figures would be if they were expressed as serious injuries per thousand miles. I'm guessing that the average Boris trip is a whole lot shorter than the average non-Boris one.

Every time I get on my bike it's a Boris trip, so I think I can answer that one for you and for M. Lanterne Rouge.

You are, of course, both wrong. As Boris, I have several injuries per thousand miles and my good (non-Boris) friends have quite a few injuries every several hundred miles.

We also made a comparison using kilometres. The ratio was the same, but none of us quite made it to the office.

The correlation is clear.

 

[Red Light]

You mention London's Boris bikes statistics a lot. We don't have anything similar here in Glasgow, could I compare the Boris bike trips to a ride in town here? Lots of traffic lights, some cycling lanes, busy but slow motion. Yes, of course, even an off should not cause serious injuries, unless it's just your bad luck.
I live on the outskirts of town: on exiting my cul de sac I have to enter a dual carriage road, speed cameras on it, they are going fast!
Are my chances of a fatal accident not higher on that road?
Self preservation makes me go a roundabout way, unless it's 6am on a Sunday morning
Everything in life is risky, some people/cyclists/drivers like to take their chances, some like to play it safe. On assessing a risk, I really prefer to use my brain rather than rely on statistics. If disaster still strikes, oh well, at least I tried my best to avoid it.

Maybe not in Glasgow but the experience of Dublinbikes is similar - 3 million journeys to date and no serious injuries there either.

London has fast and slow roads too. There are plenty of dual carriageway stretches in central London with fast (for urban) speeds. I certainly don't think Glasgow has the monopoly on them. Where I think London does have an advantage though is bikes are now so common on the roads that drivers are starting to expect them to be there - even on the high speed roads - rather than being surprised when coming across one.

The problem with using your brain, often referred to as common sense, is that often in cycling common sense gives the wrong answer. So for example common sense is to get out of the way of cars in the gutter, not to ride in the middle of the lane.

 

[Red Light]

I wonder what the figures would be if they were expressed as serious injuries per thousand miles. I'm guessing that the average Boris trip is a whole lot shorter than the average non-Boris one.

Not much shorter. The average Boris Bike (BoJo Boris not BaJic Boris) is 4km according to TfL so getting on for 40m km so far without a fatality or serious injury. The figures for London cycling in general are close to the national average of one fatality per 50m km and one serious injury per 2m km making Boris Bikes at least 20 times safer on a per km basis.

 

[slowmotion]

Hmmmm. Could they be safer because very few Boris bikers wear helmets?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

The problem with using your brain, often referred to as common sense, is that often in cycling common sense gives the wrong answer. So for example common sense is to get out of the way of cars in the gutter, not to ride in the middle of the lane.

Yeah, you said that before: I followed your tips, posted the resulting experiences in the "fear of road riding" thread .... go, have a read and a laugh.