Re: Calfee Saves Little Girl: News at 11:00!: Bikefanclub.com

Insightdriver is very correct that I used conjecture and not fact in my previous post, but getting the facts is difficult to come by regarding pathway vs. road injury statistics. Still, I suspect there might be more bicycle-related injuries incurred on paths and sidewalks (if I can include them as well) than on roadways. I think it would be reasonable speculation that road-related accidents would certainly win out (sorry, poor choice of words) in the level of harm one risks using them, up to and including death. However, considering the numbers of people using paths instead of roads in an attempt to avoid those inherent hazards the road brings, they are simply trading off the level of injury, not the risk of injury. I have to believe there are many more times the number of accidents on our pathways and sidewalks than on roads. Certainly, death would be a rare occurrence on a path, but the frequency of accidents, most left unreported, such as scraped knees, elbows, bangs and bruises and the like happen every minute of every day across America. Certainly broken bones, busted teeth, cracked heads are also a risk on our friendly local pathway that then might get reported as hospital visits are required.

Consider too that most paths are narrow, the users untrained, or only moderately experienced and when you mix in two-way traffic, speed, volume and kids and pet animals who do not know which way is up? heck, you and I see families riding without helmets even! Nope, I think the path offers more risk to injury, just less severe. Umm? but that?s a very?VERY? big selling point.

Here some sites I visited:

http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/rt/index.htm

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2002/2002pcyfacts.pdf

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

http://www.transalt.org/blueprint/chapter17/chapter17b.html

http://bicycleuniverse.info/transpo/almanac-safety.html

http://www.bikexprt.com/research/petty/general.htm

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