Increasing Severity Of Bicycle Injuries Leads To Concerns About Cycling Infrastructur
10-18-09, 12:10 PM
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Increasing Severity Of Bicycle Injuries Leads To Concerns About Cycling Infrastructur
10-18-09, 12:21 PM
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The entire article:
ScienceDaily (Oct. 17, 2009) — Record-high gasoline prices, the slowdown in the economy, and increasing environmental sensitivity are leading more people to bike to work or for play. But an adequate infrastructure may not be in place to protect cyclists from serious injury according to surgeons who presented a new study on the issue during a scientific paper session at the 2009 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons
The researchers found that the severity of injury and hospital length-of-stay for bicycle injuries at one trauma center has increased significantly over the past 11 years. Despite the wide-spread attention paid to the importance of wearing helmets, helmet use did not change during the time period of the study, and more than 33 percent of 329 bicycle injury victims had a significant head injury. Even more alarming, the number of chest injuries increased by 15 percent and abdominal injuries rose three-fold over the last five years. “We were astounded by that data,” said Jeffry Kashuk, MD, FACS, associate professor of surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and senior attending surgeon at the Rocky Mountain Regional Trauma Center at Denver Health Medical Center, Denver. “We’re talking about injured spleens and livers, internal bleeding, rib fractures, and hemothorax [blood in the chest]. Those kinds of injuries are reflected by an increase in injury severity score,” he added.
The study was conducted in Denver, which has one of the most well-developed bicycle path networks in the country. “Denver is very much a bicycle community. If we are seeing an increase in injuries in a metropolitan area that has fairly mature bike infrastructure from the standpoint of bike pathways, there’s reason for concern about what’s happening in metropolitan areas that don’t have that level of maturity. There seems to be a significant increase nationally in the use of the bicycle for urban transportation. If our data is a microcosm of what is going on nationally, we may be on the cusp of an injury epidemic,” Dr. Kashuk said.
Researchers at the University of Colorado hope to obtain funding so they can expand the study nationally and generate data that will support better safety standards and raise community awareness about the lack of cycling infrastructure. “On a local and national level, people need to be aware of the fact that a push for bike transportation for the sake of health, the environment, and lower transportation costs has real potential to raise medical costs because our infrastructure may not be ready for it,” Dr. Kashuk said. “Look at all the safety factors that have been incor-porated in automobiles and streets and highways. If even a percentage of that kind of investment went into safety vis-a-vis bike paths and community infrastructure, we would protect people from major injury.”
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1016141400.htm
Increasing Severity Of Bicycle Injuries Leads To Concerns About Cycling Infrastructure
ScienceDaily (Oct. 17, 2009) — Record-high gasoline prices, the slowdown in the economy, and increasing environmental sensitivity are leading more people to bike to work or for play. But an adequate infrastructure may not be in place to protect cyclists from serious injury according to surgeons who presented a new study on the issue during a scientific paper session at the 2009 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons
The researchers found that the severity of injury and hospital length-of-stay for bicycle injuries at one trauma center has increased significantly over the past 11 years. Despite the wide-spread attention paid to the importance of wearing helmets, helmet use did not change during the time period of the study, and more than 33 percent of 329 bicycle injury victims had a significant head injury. Even more alarming, the number of chest injuries increased by 15 percent and abdominal injuries rose three-fold over the last five years. “We were astounded by that data,” said Jeffry Kashuk, MD, FACS, associate professor of surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and senior attending surgeon at the Rocky Mountain Regional Trauma Center at Denver Health Medical Center, Denver. “We’re talking about injured spleens and livers, internal bleeding, rib fractures, and hemothorax [blood in the chest]. Those kinds of injuries are reflected by an increase in injury severity score,” he added.
The study was conducted in Denver, which has one of the most well-developed bicycle path networks in the country. “Denver is very much a bicycle community. If we are seeing an increase in injuries in a metropolitan area that has fairly mature bike infrastructure from the standpoint of bike pathways, there’s reason for concern about what’s happening in metropolitan areas that don’t have that level of maturity. There seems to be a significant increase nationally in the use of the bicycle for urban transportation. If our data is a microcosm of what is going on nationally, we may be on the cusp of an injury epidemic,” Dr. Kashuk said.
Researchers at the University of Colorado hope to obtain funding so they can expand the study nationally and generate data that will support better safety standards and raise community awareness about the lack of cycling infrastructure. “On a local and national level, people need to be aware of the fact that a push for bike transportation for the sake of health, the environment, and lower transportation costs has real potential to raise medical costs because our infrastructure may not be ready for it,” Dr. Kashuk said. “Look at all the safety factors that have been incor-porated in automobiles and streets and highways. If even a percentage of that kind of investment went into safety vis-a-vis bike paths and community infrastructure, we would protect people from major injury.”
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1016141400.htm
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Last edited by Roody; 10-18-09 at 12:27 PM.
10-18-09, 12:26 PM
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An increase in severe injuries, but no data on whether this is disproportionate to the increased number of cyclists, or increased distance traveled or number of trips. Also no indication if the victims were riding on the streets or on the "mature" bicycle infrastructure.
If more people ride bikes, it might be that fewer people ride in cars. If so, there might be a decline in injuries of people in cars.
If more people ride bikes, it might be that fewer people ride in cars. If so, there might be a decline in injuries of people in cars.
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10-18-09, 12:56 PM
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An increase in severe injuries, but no data on whether this is disproportionate to the increased number of cyclists, or increased distance traveled or number of trips. Also no indication if the victims were riding on the streets or on the "mature" bicycle infrastructure.
If more people ride bikes, it might be that fewer people ride in cars. If so, there might be a decline in injuries of people in cars.
If more people ride bikes, it might be that fewer people ride in cars. If so, there might be a decline in injuries of people in cars.
10-18-09, 01:29 PM
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Also these are injuries, not deaths.
If these injuries are occurring on bike paths, what may have occurred if these same riders were on streets?
If these injuries are occurring on bike paths, what may have occurred if these same riders were on streets?
10-18-09, 02:20 PM
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More bicycles on the road means more bicycles in the news.
10-18-09, 06:05 PM
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There is another question, how much of this is more dangerous forms of riding, that have nothing to do with road riding. Urban trick riding, BMX trick riding at the skate park, have an order of magnitude higher crash rate then road riding. Even mountain bike riding is much more dangerous. This needs to also be part of any study that is done.
Seems to me that BMX and hipster trick riding is unlikely to yield many bad injuries. Lots of broken bones, few deaths.
10-19-09, 08:59 AM
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Also more novice cyclists on the road and paths because of the gas priice situation mentioned, many riding stupidly (like on the left side or sidewalk, and without lights). And the focus on helmets as the "magic pill" that'll save your life in all cases of accident, the absence of rider education in high school, ridiculous helmet laws for those 13 to 18 years old that keep young adults generally off their bikes and out of the bike clubs, and the extra risk taking by those who bought in to the helmet meme and therefore think the helmet will protect them. Helmets do nothing for a punctured lung.
10-19-09, 10:21 AM
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If we are seeing an increase in injuries in a metropolitan area that has fairly mature bike infrastructure from the standpoint of bike pathways, there’s reason for concern about what’s happening in metropolitan areas that don’t have that level of maturity.
1) car drivers are getting more aggressive and/or less skilled
2) the infrastructure that they have is not done correctly, and is not reducing accidents.
3) the injured cyclists may not have been properly instructed in riding. Was the study adjusted for length of time the riders had been on the road? For stupid practices (riding wrong way, riding at night with no lights/dark clothing, transitioning from sidewalk or MUP to crosswalk/road without due care, etc)?
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10-19-09, 10:49 AM
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A few other explanations:
1) car drivers are getting more aggressive and/or less skilled
2) the infrastructure that they have is not done correctly, and is not reducing accidents.
3) the injured cyclists may not have been properly instructed in riding. Was the study adjusted for length of time the riders had been on the road? For stupid practices (riding wrong way, riding at night with no lights/dark clothing, transitioning from sidewalk or MUP to crosswalk/road without due care, etc)?
1) car drivers are getting more aggressive and/or less skilled
2) the infrastructure that they have is not done correctly, and is not reducing accidents.
3) the injured cyclists may not have been properly instructed in riding. Was the study adjusted for length of time the riders had been on the road? For stupid practices (riding wrong way, riding at night with no lights/dark clothing, transitioning from sidewalk or MUP to crosswalk/road without due care, etc)?
10-19-09, 11:13 AM
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Not to mention the fact that this research hasn't even been through peer review. It was apparently presented as a paper to the 2009 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, but looking on the website for the event, I can find no listing of it.
In short, I would be highly dubious about hanging my little-used helmet on anything it says. Probably statistical garbage cobbled together by a grad student trying desperately to whack out his dissertation before the student loans come due.
10-19-09, 11:47 AM
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Agree, it's not made clear what the results are actually showing. the only hard number stated is "33% of 329 bicycle injury victims had a significant head injury"
The rise of 15% and three fold increase in chest/abdominal injuries are the only figures that could have meaning, but they're actually useless without supporting data. Has the total amount of accidents gone up/down/remained the same? Has cycle use gone up/down/remained the same?
(if my area is any indication, there has been a HUGE growth in cycle use, I used to be able to ride 10 or 15 miles and see one or two bikes, now I can ride a few blocks and see a dozen bikes.)
Ken.
The rise of 15% and three fold increase in chest/abdominal injuries are the only figures that could have meaning, but they're actually useless without supporting data. Has the total amount of accidents gone up/down/remained the same? Has cycle use gone up/down/remained the same?
(if my area is any indication, there has been a HUGE growth in cycle use, I used to be able to ride 10 or 15 miles and see one or two bikes, now I can ride a few blocks and see a dozen bikes.)
Ken.
10-19-09, 11:53 AM
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I'm not a pathologist, but these types of injuries strongly suggest that the cyclists were hit by cars.
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10-19-09, 12:01 PM
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From the article:
Perhaps this is the result of too much bike-specific infrastructure? I spend most of my time on the roads, but the few "bike paths" I've been on have been narrow twisty passageways with brush and trees directly off of the path. They're more like a snowmobile trail than a road.
Perhaps all of these internal injuries are due to the lack of maneuverable space in and on either side of the trail?
We’re talking about injured spleens and livers, internal bleeding, rib fractures, and hemothorax (blood in the chest).
Perhaps all of these internal injuries are due to the lack of maneuverable space in and on either side of the trail?
10-19-09, 12:06 PM
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From the article:
Perhaps this is the result of too much bike-specific infrastructure? I spend most of my time on the roads, but the few "bike paths" I've been on have been narrow twisty passageways with brush and trees directly off of the path. They're more like a snowmobile trail than a road.
Perhaps all of these internal injuries are due to the lack of maneuverable space in and on either side of the trail?
We’re talking about injured spleens and livers, internal bleeding, rib fractures, and hemothorax (blood in the chest).
Perhaps all of these internal injuries are due to the lack of maneuverable space in and on either side of the trail?
Bike fall injuries:
- Common--fractures of wrist and collar bone, head and neck injuries, soft tissue injuries, hematoma, road rash.
- More rarely--fractures of pelvis and lower extremities, internal injuries.
- Very rare--internal organ injuries.
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10-19-09, 12:09 PM
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(For this post, chipcom will be playing the part of the evil John Forester)
Infrastructure encourages incompetent cycling
Infrastructure encourages incompetent cycling
10-19-09, 12:17 PM
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10-19-09, 12:25 PM
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The injuries in the quote are not typical for bicycle falls. They are more likely the result of fairly high speed collisions with cars.
Bike fall injuries:
Bike fall injuries:
- Common--fractures of wrist and collar bone, head and neck injuries, soft tissue injuries, hematoma, road rash.
- More rarely--fractures of pelvis and lower extremities, internal injuries.
- Very rare--internal organ injuries.
10-19-09, 12:57 PM
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A narrative on bicycle driving.
A narrative on bicycle driving.
10-19-09, 12:57 PM
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Keep in mind injuries or the lack there of were not reported to the hospital and are not part of the tabulation. So if we had a lot of accidents that resulted in no hospital visit but were part of the tabulation we could say that the severity went down. In other words, its hard to glean any useful information from this report.
10-19-09, 07:31 PM
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10-19-09, 07:33 PM
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ka-ching!
Not to mention the fact that this research hasn't even been through peer review. It was apparently presented as a paper to the 2009 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, but looking on the website for the event, I can find no listing of it.
In short, I would be highly dubious about hanging my little-used helmet on anything it says. Probably statistical garbage cobbled together by a grad student trying desperately to whack out his dissertation before the student loans come due.
Not to mention the fact that this research hasn't even been through peer review. It was apparently presented as a paper to the 2009 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, but looking on the website for the event, I can find no listing of it.
In short, I would be highly dubious about hanging my little-used helmet on anything it says. Probably statistical garbage cobbled together by a grad student trying desperately to whack out his dissertation before the student loans come due.
