3 ms·

Let's not cite anecdotes to set public policy. You give one example of a pedestrian killed by a cyclist in SF last year. Also last year, 21 pedestrians and 4 c

by panarky 12y ago

Let's not cite anecdotes to set public policy. You give one example of a pedestrian killed by a cyclist in SF last year. Also last year, 21 pedestrians and 4 cyclists were killed by cars[0]. That's still not a fair statistic because there are far more cars than bikes. So in 2012, 1.14 people were killed by cars in the US per 100 million miles driven[1]. I can't find similar bike stats for the US, but in the UK there are about 3.7 cyclist deaths per 100 million miles. How many of those deaths were caused by cyclists, and how many were caused by cars? [0] http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Streets-of-S-F-a-road-hazard-as-pedestrian-5205143.php http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Streets-of-S-F-a-road-... [1] http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/state-by-state-overview http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalit... [2] http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/ctc-cycling-statistics http://www.ctc.org.uk/resources/ctc-cycling-statistics

e40 12y ago
First, I wasn't trying to set public policy. I was offering experience not anecdotes. I've walked 20+ miles a week for 15+ years. I've observed a lot of behavior. Yes, on occasion cyclists stop for me when I'm in the crosswalk, but it's the exception. I quoted information about cyclists, because you know, I was replying to a comment about cyclists.
e40 12y ago
I'd like to point out one other thing: my safety, as a pedestrian, is more often put at risk by cyclists than motorists. I'm talking number of incidents here. I'll agree that were I to be hit by a car I'd likely be more seriously injured than by a bike, but my point is about the numbers. The route I walk is heavily trafficked by cars and bikes, so the comparison is a fair one.
- snowwrestler 12y ago
  You probably don't know how often your safety is put at risk by cars because you aren't aware of what is going on inside the cars. There are accidents every year in which distracted drivers, or those reacting to them, encroach upon pedestrian areas like sidewalks or crosswalks.

by panarky 12y ago

e40 12y ago

First, I wasn't trying to set public policy. I was offering experience not anecdotes. I've walked 20+ miles a week for 15+ years. I've observed a lot of behavior. Yes, on occasion cyclists stop for me when I'm in the crosswalk, but it's the exception. I quoted information about cyclists, because you know, I was replying to a comment about cyclists.

e40 12y ago

I'd like to point out one other thing: my safety, as a pedestrian, is more often put at risk by cyclists than motorists. I'm talking number of incidents here. I'll agree that were I to be hit by a car I'd likely be more seriously injured than by a bike, but my point is about the numbers. The route I walk is heavily trafficked by cars and bikes, so the comparison is a fair one.

snowwrestler 12y ago
You probably don't know how often your safety is put at risk by cars because you aren't aware of what is going on inside the cars. There are accidents every year in which distracted drivers, or those reacting to them, encroach upon pedestrian areas like sidewalks or crosswalks.