Bicycle Accident Stats

The Madison study is both interesting and illustrates the importance of 
'apples and oranges' comparisons. There are bike 'lanes' (and paved 
shoulders); bike 'paths' (or "tracks" in the Montreal case study), and 
'sidewalks'

I've always maintained that as soon as a younger (say, early adolescent) 
cyclist is confident on a bike that they are likely safer on a street 
than on the sidewalk. Note that the majority of the incidents reported 
in the Madison report were at driveway crossings and intersections. Some 
drivers seem to have a 'blind spot' for the sidewalk intersections and 
there are often visual impediments (hedges, fences, u/g garage entrances 
etc). Also, as a pedestrian, it always bugs me to have some idiot on a 
bike force me off the 5-6' sidewalk.

Bike lanes are likely safer, or as safe as the sidewalk for mature 
riders- it was interesting to note that the majority of accidents out on 
the road are attributable to driver error...

The Montreal Gazette article may be a little confusing, the photo shows 
a bike lane while the text describes "riding on separated bike paths" 
and the study cited looked at "two-way paths along, but physically 
separated from, a parallel road"

With due respect to Demetri, and with an appreciation of the Madison 
info., the Montreal-based (but internationally-researched) study looks 
pretty specific and empirical to me. It also conicides with all I know 
about the Nederlands experience - where sparated bike paths are both the 
'norm' and comparatively ssafe.

Cheers

Pat Harrison
Nanaimo, BC