Re: Bicycle Accident Stats

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 2:12 PM, Pat Harrison <pat-YP/VzW9fTK3k7dXyY5I9mPd9D2ou9A/[email protected]> wrote:

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
>
> _______________________________________________
>
"Appreciation of the Madison info"; you referring to the study I referred
to? Study I referred to was of bicycle-motorist accidents before and after
installing bike lanes. It is a definitive study; the only one I know of that
measured accidents of same streets before and after installing bike lanes.
It is not to be confused with Madison, WI regional plan that Hoagy
referenced. At least half dozen studies have come to my attention on safety
of bike lanes. The general finding is that bike lanes are no more or no less
safe than riding on roads without them.

Demetri