4 ms·
"Perfectly safe" is of course impossible. It should be read as "as safe as walking" or, more realistically, "as safe as running." (Wearing a helmet while runnin
by dalke 12y ago
"Perfectly safe" is of course impossible. It should be read as "as safe as walking" or, more realistically, "as safe as running." (Wearing a helmet while running, or while driving, may also be safer than not.)
For a safe infrastructure, see how Amsterdam and Copenhagen have bike lines which are independent of traffic and of pedestrians, including it own bridges and overpasses. See also how routes are arranged so that cycle and pedestrian routes are more direct than car routes, how bikes have right-of-way over cars, and how limited speed limits and narrow roads keep cars from going fast in roads which are shared with cycles.
Also, it wasn't only "perfectly safe bicycle infrastructure" but also "and you're never going faster than 20 km/h". That's a 3 minute km or 5 minute mile, which is slower than many people can sprint, and slower than the fastest marathon paces. It's hard to understand why cyclists, on their own paths, need a helmet when runners who might pass them do not.
- JoeAltmaier 12y agoI think its because runners have their feet under them, and can respond in some emergencies. Falling off a bike almost always ends up head-first, with arms outstretched to brace yourself (broken collar-bone from the impact) or not (broken helmet/head).
- dalke 12y agoCyclists can also respond in some emergencies, including some that aren't available to joggers. For example, I found that two wheels + two feet made it possible to travel on an icy road where two feet alone felt very dangerous. Cyclists also very rarely get a sprained ankle. I don't find where "falling off a bike almost always ends up head-first." My own injuries seem more of the slip on an icy or wet patch and fall on my side variety. Looking around, according to http://books.google.com/books?id=cxn2dKfCg1AC&lpg=PA138&ots=7tFEvEPrNy&dq=bicycle%20accident%20injuries%20%22broken%20bone%22%20head%20abrasion&hl=sv&pg=PA138#v=onepage&q=crash%20relaed%20injuries&f=false http://books.google.com/books?id=cxn2dKfCg1AC&lpg=PA138&ots=... "gravel rash" on the hips, knees, butt, and elbows is the most common injury. Bruising, cuts, and breaks (collarbone, ribs, and wrists, in that order) are relatively less common. I don't get a sense that head-first events top the list.