Maybe it is drivers on cell phones ... or maybe the spike in deaths is the increasing poverty among lower-income workers are real wages continue to shrink, forcing many to ride bicycles because they cannot afford cars. or maybe ... people who get into accidents caused by texting while driving, are losing their licenses, buying bikes, and texting while biking.
No information here whatsoever, so Let's All Speculate!
And then since this is the intarwebz, let's attack and insult one another for advancing different speculative theories ... or just for posting ... that actually seems to be enough to spark a fight on most sites.
This whole "Take the lane" vs "Frap" thing is too funny .... Why not just ride wherever and however it is safe?
People who stay right say taking the lane is inevitably fatal ... people who take the lane say staying right is literally asking to be hit. Both "sides" are full of bodily waste ... There is no single strategy which assures safety beyond possibly, being aware of the situation and riding sensibly ... but please, don't let me interrupt anyone's slap fights.