Comments on: Study finds bad driving, not bad cycling, the cause of most cycling accidents http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/study-finds-bad-driving-not-bad-cycling-the-cause-of-most-cycling-accidents/ Because Every Bicyclist Needs a Good Lawyer. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:06:45 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Martha Retallick http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/study-finds-bad-driving-not-bad-cycling-the-cause-of-most-cycling-accidents/comment-page-1/#comment-10741 Martha Retallick Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:00:04 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=1282#comment-10741 Here's another take on the same problem -- the drivers just aren't paying attention: http://www.distraction.gov/ Here’s another take on the same problem — the drivers just aren’t paying attention:

http://www.distraction.gov/

]]> By: Harrison http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/study-finds-bad-driving-not-bad-cycling-the-cause-of-most-cycling-accidents/comment-page-1/#comment-10626 Harrison Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:19:58 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=1282#comment-10626 I agree with you on lowering the drinking age. I think young adults in Europe are much more responsible drinkers because they do not perceive alcohol as a forbidden pleasure. That's a difficult argument to make in the US, though, especially in this age. Thanks for sharing the study, it's confirmed what I've long suspected and it's nice to have data to reference. I agree with you on lowering the drinking age. I think young adults in Europe are much more responsible drinkers because they do not perceive alcohol as a forbidden pleasure. That’s a difficult argument to make in the US, though, especially in this age.

Thanks for sharing the study, it’s confirmed what I’ve long suspected and it’s nice to have data to reference.

]]> By: BB http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/study-finds-bad-driving-not-bad-cycling-the-cause-of-most-cycling-accidents/comment-page-1/#comment-10619 BB Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:09:29 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=1282#comment-10619 Ed has a great page for collision studies in Arizona http://azbikelaw.org/blog/understanding-collision-summaries/ I think Tom is citing Phoenix crash data. I saw 11 percent hit from behind in 2007 I do believe. Ed missed Scottsdale's crash data though. Which is buried in the master bike plan. 64 percent of crashes were from sidewalk wrong riders. only 15 percent were in the roadway riding the right way. http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/traffic/alttransmethod/bikeways.asp And if Scottsdale master plan can't get any better. The specifically address where the focus of enforcement should be. wrong way riders, failing to yield to pedestrians and I am guessing wrong way sidewalk riding, riding with out lights, and finally at the very very bottom obeying traffic signals. This is very true I have had many officers observe me safely rolling through stop signs. also almost 25 percent of our officers are trained to be bicycle cops. I agree with E. raise that dam driving age and lower the drinking age. Ban cell phone usage period. Lower the speed limits Get EDRs into cars now not 2012. Start using the data in crashes which have EDRs in cars. Start revoking more DLs for longer periods of time. etc etc. This should be a no brainer. Ed has a great page for collision studies in Arizona

http://azbikelaw.org/blog/understanding-collision-summaries/

I think Tom is citing Phoenix crash data. I saw 11 percent hit from behind in 2007 I do believe.

Ed missed Scottsdale’s crash data though. Which is buried in the master bike plan.
64 percent of crashes were from sidewalk wrong riders.
only 15 percent were in the roadway riding the right way.
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/traffic/alttransmethod/bikeways.asp
And if Scottsdale master plan can’t get any better. The specifically address where the focus of enforcement should be. wrong way riders, failing to yield to pedestrians and I am guessing wrong way sidewalk riding, riding with out lights, and finally at the very very bottom obeying traffic signals.

This is very true I have had many officers observe me safely rolling through stop signs.

also almost 25 percent of our officers are trained to be bicycle cops.

I agree with E. raise that dam driving age and lower the drinking age. Ban cell phone usage period.
Lower the speed limits
Get EDRs into cars now not 2012. Start using the data in crashes which have EDRs in cars.
Start revoking more DLs for longer periods of time. etc etc. This should be a no brainer.

]]> By: Scott http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/study-finds-bad-driving-not-bad-cycling-the-cause-of-most-cycling-accidents/comment-page-1/#comment-10596 Scott Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:39:50 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=1282#comment-10596 Tom, it's logical that both be equally true, if the lower one refers to the more inclusive car/bike "incidents" and the higher to fatalities only, as this type of incident carries a greater chance of fatality than most. Therefore even if it doesn't happen very often (3%), if it does you're probably going to die, which raises the percentage for that outcome. Tom, it’s logical that both be equally true, if the lower one refers to the more inclusive car/bike “incidents” and the higher to fatalities only, as this type of incident carries a greater chance of fatality than most. Therefore even if it doesn’t happen very often (3%), if it does you’re probably going to die, which raises the percentage for that outcome.

]]> By: Tom http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/study-finds-bad-driving-not-bad-cycling-the-cause-of-most-cycling-accidents/comment-page-1/#comment-10594 Tom Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:25:55 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=1282#comment-10594 The full 64 page report can be downloaded here, though you have to create a free account with TRL: http://bit.ly/70hy94 The full 64 page report can be downloaded here, though you have to create a free account with TRL: http://bit.ly/70hy94

]]> By: Red Star http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/study-finds-bad-driving-not-bad-cycling-the-cause-of-most-cycling-accidents/comment-page-1/#comment-10591 Red Star Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:23:31 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=1282#comment-10591 It's good that TBL put this study out there (and Red Star thanks him). But there are limitations. For one thing, the study was done in the UK (where motorists drive on the wrong side of the road, as Chevy Chase discovered to his frustration in National Lampoon's "European Vacation"). So there are generalizability (sp?) issues, always a difficulty in epidemiology. What falls out is why isn't this (or is it?) studied in USA? Anyway, a different take on things is provided by a relatively obscure Sheldon Brown-like character: Is Cycling Dangerous? over at: http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm (it's not a scholarly/professional/peer-reviewed work, just some things to think about, talking points, from a seasoned cyclist) Part of the well-meaning adventure over at: http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/sitemap.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~ Spoiler alert: Kifer's thoughts and assertions are a bit dated (circa turn of the century). Here's why, some sad irony: http://www.kenkifer.com/death.htm It’s good that TBL put this study out there (and Red Star thanks him). But there are limitations. For one thing, the study was done in the UK (where motorists drive on the wrong side of the road, as Chevy Chase discovered to his frustration in National Lampoon’s “European Vacation”). So there are generalizability (sp?) issues, always a difficulty in epidemiology. What falls out is why isn’t this (or is it?) studied in USA?

Anyway, a different take on things is provided by a relatively obscure Sheldon Brown-like character:

Is Cycling Dangerous?

over at:

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm

(it’s not a scholarly/professional/peer-reviewed work, just some things to think about, talking points, from a seasoned cyclist)

Part of the well-meaning adventure over at:

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/sitemap.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~

Spoiler alert:

Kifer’s thoughts and assertions are a bit dated (circa turn of the century). Here’s why, some sad irony:

http://www.kenkifer.com/death.htm

]]> By: Tom http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/study-finds-bad-driving-not-bad-cycling-the-cause-of-most-cycling-accidents/comment-page-1/#comment-10589 Tom Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:09:36 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=1282#comment-10589 One of the things we may do in Tempe in 2010 is work with Tempe PD SE (Selective Enforcement) division to have the 3 foot rule enforced on some of our rides. This new data is interesting as the data in our LAB LCI training materials suggests that only 3% of car/bike incidents are "bicyclist hit from behind by car". In all my talks with uneducated cyclists, the "I'm afraid a car will hit me from behind" is the most cited reason that they choose to ride on the sidewalk, the wrong way, etc. Now it seems their fears are more founded than the older data suggests. One of the things we may do in Tempe in 2010 is work with Tempe PD SE (Selective Enforcement) division to have the 3 foot rule enforced on some of our rides.

This new data is interesting as the data in our LAB LCI training materials suggests that only 3% of car/bike incidents are “bicyclist hit from behind by car”.

In all my talks with uneducated cyclists, the “I’m afraid a car will hit me from behind” is the most cited reason that they choose to ride on the sidewalk, the wrong way, etc. Now it seems their fears are more founded than the older data suggests.

]]> By: Heidi Swift http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/study-finds-bad-driving-not-bad-cycling-the-cause-of-most-cycling-accidents/comment-page-1/#comment-10586 Heidi Swift Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:10:07 +0000 http://www.tucsonbikelawyer.com/?p=1282#comment-10586 I absolutely love and agree with your call to decrease the minimum drinking age and increase the minimum driving age. But yes, we're probably both dreaming. Also, I'm headed to Tucson in the next few days to stay through March. Looking forward to getting a taste of what Arizona has to offer for cycling! Cheers, Heidi I absolutely love and agree with your call to decrease the minimum drinking age and increase the minimum driving age. But yes, we’re probably both dreaming.
Also, I’m headed to Tucson in the next few days to stay through March. Looking forward to getting a taste of what Arizona has to offer for cycling!
Cheers,
Heidi

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