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I would think that the main factor distinguishing running injuries from cycling injuries is the nearly-dead factor. It's very hard to die from a running injury

by hugh3 16y ago

I would think that the main factor distinguishing running injuries from cycling injuries is the nearly-dead factor. It's very hard to die from a running injury, but any major cycling injury is probably just a little bit of bad luck away from being a broken neck.

jdietrich 16y ago
It's largely perception. Professional cyclists crash several times a year, often at far greater speeds than any normal cyclist would ever reach. A routine tumble will happen at in excess of 25mph. I can't remember the last professional to die in a road crash. Collarbones break because they're supposed to - unpleasant as it might seem, they're natural crumple zones. There are certainly classes of accident that happen to commuters but not professionals, but they happen to runners just the same. If you get hit by a car, it doesn't matter a great deal whether you're running or cycling, the car carries most of the kinetic energy either way. The risk of being put off by accidents is that cycling is far safer than not cycling. Study after study has shown that the cardiovascular benefits massively outweigh the risk of traumatic injury - cyclists live markedly longer than non-cyclists. The cure-all for cycle safety is simply more cyclists. Most drivers aren't malicious towards cyclists, just inexperienced in maneuvering around them.
- lincolnq 16y ago
  Hmm, interesting. I have been doored once on my daily bike commute in Cambridge, MA. I've slipped and fallen once. A few times a month I have to swerve or brake hard because someone didn't see me. And I'm fairly experienced at this point (about a year of cycling every day) -- when I started out, I was dodging cars and pedestrians once or twice a week. I haven't had any major injuries myself, but a friend was doored recently and hospitalized. He had surgery twice and missed well over a week of work. Months later, he still can't ride. My point is just that it certainly doesn't FEEL very safe. The claim of health benefits is certainly something I want to believe. And I definitely agree that more cyclists on the road would be good. Drivers just don't look for cyclists -- practically ever. If there were better bike lanes and they were always full of cyclists, people would probably learn pretty quick.

by hugh3 16y ago

jdietrich 16y ago

It's largely perception. Professional cyclists crash several times a year, often at far greater speeds than any normal cyclist would ever reach. A routine tumble will happen at in excess of 25mph. I can't remember the last professional to die in a road crash. Collarbones break because they're supposed to - unpleasant as it might seem, they're natural crumple zones. There are certainly classes of accident that happen to commuters but not professionals, but they happen to runners just the same. If you get hit by a car, it doesn't matter a great deal whether you're running or cycling, the car carries most of the kinetic energy either way. The risk of being put off by accidents is that cycling is far safer than not cycling. Study after study has shown that the cardiovascular benefits massively outweigh the risk of traumatic injury - cyclists live markedly longer than non-cyclists. The cure-all for cycle safety is simply more cyclists. Most drivers aren't malicious towards cyclists, just inexperienced in maneuvering around them.

lincolnq 16y ago
Hmm, interesting. I have been doored once on my daily bike commute in Cambridge, MA. I've slipped and fallen once. A few times a month I have to swerve or brake hard because someone didn't see me. And I'm fairly experienced at this point (about a year of cycling every day) -- when I started out, I was dodging cars and pedestrians once or twice a week. I haven't had any major injuries myself, but a friend was doored recently and hospitalized. He had surgery twice and missed well over a week of work. Months later, he still can't ride. My point is just that it certainly doesn't FEEL very safe. The claim of health benefits is certainly something I want to believe. And I definitely agree that more cyclists on the road would be good. Drivers just don't look for cyclists -- practically ever. If there were better bike lanes and they were always full of cyclists, people would probably learn pretty quick.