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It has been shown that the biggest factor in bike safety is the number of cyclists on the road. The more bikes, the more aware drivers are of our presence. In S

It has been shown that the biggest factor in bike safety is the number of cyclists on the road. The more bikes, the more aware drivers are of our presence. In SF, Critical Mass had (I've learned) a huge impact in breaking ground for bike infrastructure. Currently, the Bay Area Bike Share has become a strong factor. If we stop biking now until it's safer, it might never be so.

fixedd 12y ago
There's also been shown to be an inverse correlation between wearing a helmet and safety. It seems that motorists correlate "having a helmet on" with being safe, and so are more aggressive around those who are wearing.
- codezero 12y ago
  Where has this been shown? Since I bike daily, I'm really curious about studies about helmet safety.
  - gst 12y ago
    This sounds related: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/5334208.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/5334208....
    - codezero 12y ago
      Interesting, but not really definitive. Seems like there's a big factor related to the size of the bike lane as well. There could also be a bias towards male and female cyclists, since this experiment was conducted using a wig to make the rider look female with no helmet on. Would still like to see more. My current ride gives me a pretty huge bike lane, and so far I've felt better with a helmet on than without.
  - aidos 12y ago
    Probably referring to the study in the uk to examine how overtaking distances of passing vehicles is affected by the attire of the cyclist [1]. There's suggestions that making helmets compulsory reduces cyclists, which in turn makes cycling unsafer. I cycle in London every day (for the past 10 years) and personally don't wear a helmet (though plenty of my friends do). I tried, but found for me it was a mild occasional obstruction to my peripheral vision - something I value highly on the road. [1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm
    - codezero 12y ago
      I want to make a joke about how you all ride on the wrong side of the road, but your points are all too good to snipe at :)
sinak 12y ago
I agree: more cyclists is good. But risking my own health and safety to make SF drivers more aware of cyclists just doesn't work for me. I think this is called a "social trap" by sociologists. I'm not sure there's an easy solution. But for my part if I stop cycling, I'll make sure to up my donations to the bicycle coalition.
dirkdk 12y ago
I grew up riding my bike in Amsterdam, it was there my main method of transportation, as it is here in SF. I never ever wore a helmet in Amsterdam, but here I do. Main reason: not my driving capabilities, but car drivers that don't think about cyclists, whereas in Amsterdam they do. Opening their door next to the bike lane? Looking to their right hand side when turning left? Using their turning signal, especially when taking a right turn at a red light? Second, roads are obviously way more laid out for cars and not for bicycles. Four way stops are a pain. Roads with no designated bike lane means you are passed by cars that actively have to avoid you, while driving 3-4x as fast. Traffic lights leave too little time between one side turning red and the other turning green. In the Netherlands, if you hit a bicycle with your car you are automatically responsible. That will make you more aware of bikes. I always compare the advent of bicycles to snowboarders entering the slopes over the last 30 years that were ruled by skiers. Different ways of moving, where the new people are seen as the odd ones. Yes to dare to enter you have to love a bit of adventure and sometimes bend the rules, but it is mostly perception. We just have to get used to each other and work it out

fixedd 12y ago

There's also been shown to be an inverse correlation between wearing a helmet and safety. It seems that motorists correlate "having a helmet on" with being safe, and so are more aggressive around those who are wearing.

codezero 12y ago
Where has this been shown? Since I bike daily, I'm really curious about studies about helmet safety.
- gst 12y ago
  This sounds related: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/5334208.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/5334208....
  - codezero 12y ago
    Interesting, but not really definitive. Seems like there's a big factor related to the size of the bike lane as well. There could also be a bias towards male and female cyclists, since this experiment was conducted using a wig to make the rider look female with no helmet on. Would still like to see more. My current ride gives me a pretty huge bike lane, and so far I've felt better with a helmet on than without.
- aidos 12y ago
  Probably referring to the study in the uk to examine how overtaking distances of passing vehicles is affected by the attire of the cyclist [1]. There's suggestions that making helmets compulsory reduces cyclists, which in turn makes cycling unsafer. I cycle in London every day (for the past 10 years) and personally don't wear a helmet (though plenty of my friends do). I tried, but found for me it was a mild occasional obstruction to my peripheral vision - something I value highly on the road. [1] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm
  - codezero 12y ago
    I want to make a joke about how you all ride on the wrong side of the road, but your points are all too good to snipe at :)

sinak 12y ago

I agree: more cyclists is good. But risking my own health and safety to make SF drivers more aware of cyclists just doesn't work for me. I think this is called a "social trap" by sociologists. I'm not sure there's an easy solution. But for my part if I stop cycling, I'll make sure to up my donations to the bicycle coalition.

dirkdk 12y ago

I grew up riding my bike in Amsterdam, it was there my main method of transportation, as it is here in SF. I never ever wore a helmet in Amsterdam, but here I do. Main reason: not my driving capabilities, but car drivers that don't think about cyclists, whereas in Amsterdam they do. Opening their door next to the bike lane? Looking to their right hand side when turning left? Using their turning signal, especially when taking a right turn at a red light? Second, roads are obviously way more laid out for cars and not for bicycles. Four way stops are a pain. Roads with no designated bike lane means you are passed by cars that actively have to avoid you, while driving 3-4x as fast. Traffic lights leave too little time between one side turning red and the other turning green. In the Netherlands, if you hit a bicycle with your car you are automatically responsible. That will make you more aware of bikes. I always compare the advent of bicycles to snowboarders entering the slopes over the last 30 years that were ruled by skiers. Different ways of moving, where the new people are seen as the odd ones. Yes to dare to enter you have to love a bit of adventure and sometimes bend the rules, but it is mostly perception. We just have to get used to each other and work it out