Bike Commuting is Way Up in the US, and So are Cycling Deaths
Around the United States, the percentage of people that commute to work on bicycles has risen exponentially. Unfortunately, so too have bicycle deaths.
According to a new study from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people that now commute to work on bicycles has risen by over 60 percent in the last decade. That is good for the environment, it helps alleviate congestion, and it leads to a healthier populace.
There is a significant downside though.
With the number of people riding bikes increasing, so too has the number of people killed in motorist vehicle accidents involving cyclists. And that number continues to increase, following decades of decline.
Population Drift
Smaller cities have seen the largest increase in the percent of cyclists. Davis, CA and Key West, FL alone have shown a rise of 18.6 percent and 17.4 percent, respectively. And while the increase is more pronounced in cities with under 100,000 people, it is a nationwide trend affecting most urban areas regardless of size. Larger cities like Minneapolis, MN recorded a 4.1-percent increase in bicycle commuters, while Portland, OR rose 6.1-percent.
At this rate, within the next few years there will be over one million bicycle commuters on the road. While some smaller cities are still flexible enough to adapt to this shift in commuting styles, the larger the city the more difficult it will be to significantly alter the infrastructure.
Between the years of 2010 and 2012, the number of cyclist traffic deaths spiked from 621 to 722, a 16-percent increase. As harsh as it sounds, you might expect an increase since there are 300,000 more cyclists on the road today than there were in 2000. Alarmingly though, it marks the first time the number of cycling deaths has increased since 1975.
There has also been a disproportionate rise in the number of adults over the age of 20 killed while on bicycles. In just two years the percentage has risen from 74-percent to 84-percent in just two years. In 1975, that number was 21-percent.
Of those killed, two-thirds weren't wearing helmets, and one-third of those over the age of 16 had a blood alcohol levels of.08 or higher. That doesn't necessarily explain why the number of bicycle related deaths has suddenly begun to increase in over 35 years though.
No Easy Answer
Unsurprisingly, the highest percentage of cyclist deaths occur in six of the most populated states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Michigan, and Texas. These six states make up for 54-percent of all bicycle related deaths, with California accounting for 123 of the 722 deaths nationwide.
The number of bicycle related deaths matches up with top four states where the most cars are sold: California, Florida, New York, and Texas. Illinois and Michigan are also in the top 10.
According to a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association released on April 13, 2015, “roads were built to accommodate motor vehicles with little concern for pedestrians and bicyclists. Integrating motor vehicles and bicycles in already-built environments presents challenges.”
States continue to push new laws, including helmet requirements, special bicycle lanes, and the enforcement of traffic laws designed to protect cyclists. The harsh reality, however, is that increasingly crowded cities can't improve their infrastructures quickly enough. In many ways that puts much of the responsibility on the drivers in vehicles.
The conclusions to be drawn from the report are:
- Cities need to increase the number of visible bike lanes.
- A "bike box," a space in a lane where bicycles can stop before an intersection, where vehicles can turn right across the bike lane.
- Separate lights for bikers
- Cyclists should always wear helmets
- Drivers must be aware of where or not just where cyclist are, but where they will be.
- Clear lines of visibility are key.
The number of commuters that choose bicycles is increasing, and with that increase comes a certain risk to both the cyclist and the motorists they share the road with. Some of that risk can be mitigated through an emphasis by cities to adapt their infrastructure, as well as the advent of new technology. In the end though, there is no substitute for simply knowing your surroundings, and remembering to share the road.
Sources:
https://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-californa-leads-national-bicycle-deaths-20141027-story.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/08/bike-commuting-popularity-grows/8846311/
https://bikeleague.org/content/updated-bike-commute-data-released
