BikingTech

It was only dangerous when I flew down White Bird or the Lewiston grade in Idaho. I would of passed cars but out pedaled my top gear and that thing called wind...grrr.

downhillmaster

jon c. 

Abandoning hope as they enter?

Rollfast

And I remember driving a little 4 cylinder Ford Tempo with 3 passengers and luggage over White Bird and getting nearly 40 mpg for the only time in my life.

It was an automatic, I forget if it had overdrive but I never engaged it personally.

BikingTech

I took the bus to school and back. One year tho, I missed the bus and got a ride in a Yugo with two young ladies.

JoeyBike

I have to agree. Comparing highway use of any kind to war is a bit extreme and quite exaggerated. You would be much safer going to war. Unless you were stationed in the US and drove on the highways. At least people in a war zone aren't in denial and likely take every precaution they can, including avoiding mine fields whenever possible. Some cyclists just deny the mine fields exist it appears to me.

US military killed in action this year: 2,372 + 1,720 civilian contractors = 4,092
US military wounded in action this year: 20,320
(Google)

US Highway users killed in action last year: 40,100
US Highway users seriously injured in action last year: 4,570,000
(Google)

Something to consider the "very next time you go for a ride".

I-Like-To-Bike

You really do insist on doubling down on the hyperbole and hysteria. And apparently do not know how to read very well.

JoeyBike

Numbers don't lie.

Many military personnel wear body armor, travel in armored vehicles, or keep low profiles under dangerous circumstances. Many cyclists act bold and entitled and wear .02mm of Lycra while denying the dangerous circumstances - with predictable results.

I-Like-To-Bike

But some people can't read them (start by looking up the definition of "annual"), others misinterpret them; you do both.
You don't fool anyone but yourself with your hyperbolic rhetoric and exaggerations.

AlmostTrick

I too am chicken of riding in the road. That's why I wear a safety vest when I ride. Safety First!



REAL safety vest for chickens!

jon c. 

Seems like on a per capita basis highway users would be much, much safer.

JoeyBike

I didn't look up numbers of civilian casualties during war. Too depressing. So per capita results are not clear to me, and it would depend on the country in conflict.

980C Rider

Riding the road, what with fools texting whilst behind the wheel, other fools driving erratically, fools in too much of a hurry, running red lights and stop signs, etc.
I'll just ride my trainer.

jefscolnago

Huh? Did you actually say that?

I don't know what kind of living room you have, but I don't have a-holes flipping me the bird after going through a red light, making a left-hand turn to cut me off on my green... all while looking at his iPhone... in MY living room.

JoeyBike

I thought it, then typed it. Do not recall saying it out loud.

Not suggesting people don't ride outdoors. Many, many people turn to indoor trainers and fitness clubs spinning classes during dark, cold, icy, winter months. I would say a statistical zero of those folks get clobbered by cars on trainers. So this would be one end of the "bike safety spectrum". Well, "don't ride" would be the actual starting point, but who on a bike forum is going to stop riding bikes outdoors? Not even me.

Steeler_fanatic

Life is not risk free - if it was, it would not be worth living.

The only way to avoid risk is to do nothing. Even in that case, death is inevitable and may even be accelerated by a sedentary lifestyle.

However you can do things to minimize (not eliminate) the risk of cycling that are within your control:
- Make sure you have front and rear running lights and use them at all times
- Wear high visibility clothing appropriate for the conditions
- Avoid higher risk road conditions when possible (e.g. avoid riding at rush hour, select lower traffic volume routes etc.)
- Follow the rules of the road.
- Be aware of your surroundings, be self aware, and be courteous to others.
- Don't impair your own senses (e.g. don't impair your hearing by using earbuds to listen to music).
- Ride indoors on a trainer for days that aren't optimum for riding outside. Nowadays you can get a decent experience with a Smart Trainer and an app.

Will this eliminate the risk of being hit by an impaired or distracted driver? No - but it reduces the risk through actions you can take yourself...

Maelochs

New levels of idiocy, every day. A&S---Always Pushing the Boundaries.

Makes me proud.

kaos joe

RumRunner,

I don't think you're as safe as you think.


That structure was clearly built by a Sasquatch.



Happy New Year!

MikeyMK

There's a disproportionate amount of people dying from slipping on the kitchen floor and landing on the cutlery on the dishwasher door. It's probably higher than the cyclist death rate. I guess the safety gear for that just doesn't sell so well.

downhillmaster

JoeyBike

How about this one:

Per billion vehicle miles, 1,011 pedal cyclists are killed or seriously injured, in comparison to 26 car drivers6. Around 75% of fatal or serious cyclist accidents occur in urban areas. Around half of cyclist fatalities occur on rural roads. 75% happen at, or near, a road junction. (Google)

KraneXL

Maybe not, but when taken out of context and without proper perspective they can be manipulated to give false results. You know that.

jon c. 

There's only one ghost bike on the roads I ride. There are at least a dozen markers commemorating deaths in auto accidents. By the logic being employed in this thread, that clearly means driving these roads is much more dangerous.

JoeyBike

When cyclists fall asleep at the wheel, they just fall over at 10 mph. When motorists fall asleep at the wheel, they shoot into the trees or the river at 50 mph. Or across the center line into oncoming traffic which doubles the impact and wipes out a couple of whole families. This is why you see more little crosses than ghost bikes.

plittle2005

I ride almost exclusively on bike paths, avg speed limited to about 10 mph due to pedestrians and obstacles.


In August 2018, I just bought a Montague Fit, moving up from a 20" folder. Took it for my 1st ride, on a bike path, was making a loop through a school parking lot just out of curiosity, no moving vehicles around, was gawking at the scenery and suddenly was thrown on the asphalt, face-planting, breaking my neck and nose, and bruising ribs! Hurt like hell!! Crushed the front of my helmet, lots of road rash. Then had to ride home!


I had tripped over a speed bump that I just hadn't seen. Fault was all mine, should have been more observant.


Been riding on a trainer stand since, due to winter. Can't wait to get outside again.


Just goes to show ya.....even though your mother said don't play in traffic, accidents do happen!