It's not rocket science but it is pretty complex. Bike safety can't be solved with just helmet laws or bike lanes. Factors which affect safety include: - proxi

It's not rocket science but it is pretty complex. Bike safety can't be solved with just helmet laws or bike lanes. Factors which affect safety include: - proximity to cars (parked and driving) - speed of cars when bikes are riding alongside cars - speed of bikes (some bike lanes encourage riding too fast) - visibility of the roadway (esp. in turns and at intersections) - visibility of cyclists (mandatory front and rear lights at night) - public attitudes and respect for each other (general civic politeness on the part of all road users) - consistently marked and maintained roads and bikeways - fairness in enforcing the rules of the road (both cyclists and drivers need to be consistently stopped and reminded or ticketed for infractions) Bike lanes on their own don't solve all of the above problems. Putting all the blame in driver-cyclist accidents on the driver doesn't help build respect between road users. If the cycling infrastructure is wanting (as it is in almost every major city), a helmet law is a good temporary measure to at least prevent some injuries.