The risk of dying while riding a bicycle is growing at a shocking rate
Recently, both main stream and social media were filled with people sharing a video released by former professional cyclist Phil Gaimon, where he warns against the growing danger to cyclists of dying in a fatal bicycle accident. Watch the public service video, entitled “Share This When I’m Killed by Someone Driving a Car,” on Mr. Gaimon’s YouTube channel.
Mr. Gaimon included warnings to both cyclists and motorists with the upload:
Cyclists: I made this video a few months ago and was waiting for a good time to share it, but there won’t be a good time. There’ve been some deaths in New York City that hit close to home, with the usual poor response from media and police. I love riding a bike and I think everyone should do it but I’m also scared and I’m angry, and I’m injured now and feeling particularly vulnerable about getting back on the road in a few weeks. I don’t want to scare you out of riding, but we’re all this together and at some point I just have to put this out there.
Motorists: please understand that I hate being in your way far more than you do. It’s your convenience but it’s my life. Support protected bike lanes and infrastructure and we’re all better off. Every cyclists or scooter or pedestrian you see is a taxpaying human being with loved ones just trying to go about their business, and we have to work together and coexist.
Significant Jump in the Number of Fatal Cyclist Deaths in 2018
What’s going on here? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that its latest 2018 fatality research confirms that the number of bicycle accidents involving cyclist deaths has jumped 10% in the past year alone. For more, read “Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2018,” published by Published by NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis in June 2019, DOT HS 812 749, page 3.
Together with pedestrians, bicyclists are being hit by motor vehicles and dying as a result of the injuries sustained in that crash at a shocking rate. Combined, the number of people walking near traffic (pedestrians) and those riding bicycles (bicyclists) who have died in a motor vehicle accident has jumped 32% over the last decade or so (2008-2017). Compare this with a decline in the number of fatal traffic accidents during that same time period (down 0.8%).
Most Dangerous Cities to Ride a Bicycle: Chicago and Indianapolis
Researchers are studying the reasons for the increasing risk of dying in a bicycle accident in this country, and several lists have been compiled warning of metropolitan areas considered to be especially high risk for “pedalcyclists” (the NHTSA term) or bicyclists.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Last year, Bicycling Magazine reported on a study performed by ADT Home Security which studied data on 790 cities across the nation. From that analysis, the ADT report found Indianapolis, Indiana to be one of the top 25 most dangerous cities to ride a bicycle (it ranked 23rd out of 790).
Chicago, Illinois
Business Insider recently reported on a new Department of Transportation study of the most dangerous places for a fatal bike accident. In that study, Chicago, Illinois ranks in the top 20 (Chicago ranks 15th). According to that report, in Chicago the percentage of total traffic fatalities who were cyclists was 4.10%.
Meanwhile, there were no cities in either Illinois or Indiana listed in either report as being among the safest urban areas for bicyclists to ride.
Why Are Cyclists Dying on Our Streets? What is Making Riding a Bicycle So Dangerous?
There are a number of factors contributing to the increasing danger facing cyclists in Indiana, Illinois, and the rest of the country. Sadly, today’s reality remains that riding a bicycle on public streets and roadways involves an unacceptably high risk of dying in a fatal cycling accident.
NHTSA on Bike Accident Risks: Focusing on the Cyclist
The federal government considers the risk of a fatal bicycling accident as something to be minimized by the cyclist. NHTSA provides a “Bikability Checklist,” where cyclists can determine how “bike-friendly” their community may be for them before they ride.
There are also suggestions that the cyclist wear a helmet and that he or she consider the following safety precautions:
- Make sure the bicycle is in good repair
- Make sure the bicycle fits the cyclist
- Wear protective clothing (bright colors, reflectives, etc.)
- No distractions (texting, earbuds, etc.)
- Plan the bike route in advance
- Ride in the same direction as traffic
- Obey the same traffic laws as apply to motor vehicles
- Pass pedestrians by first announcing “passing on your left” or use a bell;
- Ride defensively, be alert to move out of the way of impeding danger
- Slow down and look for traffic when crossing a street
- Slow down and look for cars backing out of driveways or turning at an intersection.
Current Traffic Laws Do Not Help the Cyclist
Arguments are being made that laws need to become more bike-friendly and less focused upon motor vehicle traffic. See, Pimentel, David. “Cycling, Safety and Victim-Blaming: Toward a Coherent Public Policy for Bicycling in 21st Century America.” Tenn. L. Rev. 85 (2017): 753.
For instance, it is noted that while cyclists must obey the same traffic laws as motor vehicles, the bicycle is limited to a narrow space on the edge of the roadway, where the risk of being hit by a car or truck is high. The cyclist must ride on the shoulder, where his or her range of movement to avoid a crash is limited, at the same time that the ability of the motor vehicle driver to see the bicycle is low.
Cultural Bias against Cyclists
Another issue may involve the media portrayals of bicycle accidents where motor vehicles hit a cyclist. Some are arguing that news reports of fatal bike accidents are prejudiced against the cyclist, and that this reflects the reality that the American culture itself has a “pro-car” social bias.
For details, read “How We Talk About Drivers Hitting Cyclists,” written by Joe Lindsey and published by Outside magazine on May 6, 2019. See also CUTR, “Media Framing of Fatal Bicycle Crashes in Hillsborough County: A Critical Discourse Analysis” (2018). National Center for Transit Research Publications 9.
Fatal Bike Accident in Indiana or Illinois
Riding a bicycle instead of taking your car is becoming more and more popular in both Indiana and Illinois for many reasons. However, anyone riding a bike today must understand that there is a growing risk of being hit and killed in a motor vehicle accident where the car, truck, SUV, or minivan collides with the cyclist. The force of the vehicle as it impacts the bicycle can be deadly even at relatively slow speeds.
Drivers are not being required to give increased respect to the bicycle on their roadway. Laws are not “bike-friendly” and there is an understated, perhaps unconscious bias on the part of many people that anyone riding a bike is somehow a risk-taker while ignoring the driver’s duty to respect a cyclist on the road.
Fortunately, the personal injury and wrongful death laws of Indiana and Illinois do provide help to those who are victims of serious and fatal bicycle accidents. Cyclists can file claims for justice against drivers and other parties who may have legal liability for the accident.
For more read:
- Bicycle Accidents in Indiana and Illinois: Are Bicycle Safety Awareness Campaigns Working?
- Bicycle Accidents Can Kill: Danger of a Fatal Bike Crash in Indiana and Illinois
- Ride a Bicycle or Take a Walk in Indiana or Illinois: Rising Danger of Large Truck Accidents with Pedestrians and Bicyclists
Cyclists are facing an unacceptable level of danger on our roads today. Please be careful out there!
