Is Cycling Dangerous?
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.li>
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.
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.