Comments on: Risk and Rewards http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/01/risk-and-rewardss/ Getting Around on Two Wheels and Two Feet Tue, 22 May 2012 23:22:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Andy Cline http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/01/risk-and-rewardss/comment-page-1/#comment-5534 Andy Cline Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:06:25 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=2290#comment-5534 Charles... Thanks for dropping by Carbon Trace! I'm always interested in examining safety issues because they play such a big role in keeping bicycling numbers low in the U.S. Charles… Thanks for dropping by Carbon Trace! I’m always interested in examining safety issues because they play such a big role in keeping bicycling numbers low in the U.S.

]]> By: Charles Pelkey http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/01/risk-and-rewardss/comment-page-1/#comment-5527 Charles Pelkey Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:21:50 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=2290#comment-5527 I have to agree. I think when a writer like me gets mired in the specific details of individual accidents involving injury and fatalities we run the risk of focusing solely on the dangers of cycling and forget to mention the extraordinary benefits. I, too, have read Ken's page and I have to agree with the conclusions. Ken, of course, was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bicycle, but the analysis of the numbers still hold. My background is not that of a traffic engineer. I tend to look at these things like a journalist and a lawyer. Maybe that's a problem, in that we tend to emphasize the problems, rather than the 1000s of riders who enjoy the roads responsibly and safely. Please feel free to contact me any time you want to weigh in on anything I've written. I'm happy to hear you out ... and even steal your ideas and comments. All the best, Charles I have to agree. I think when a writer like me gets mired in the specific details of individual accidents involving injury and fatalities we run the risk of focusing solely on the dangers of cycling and forget to mention the extraordinary benefits. I, too, have read Ken’s page and I have to agree with the conclusions.

Ken, of course, was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bicycle, but the analysis of the numbers still hold.

My background is not that of a traffic engineer. I tend to look at these things like a journalist and a lawyer. Maybe that’s a problem, in that we tend to emphasize the problems, rather than the 1000s of riders who enjoy the roads responsibly and safely.

Please feel free to contact me any time you want to weigh in on anything I’ve written. I’m happy to hear you out … and even steal your ideas and comments.

All the best,
Charles

]]> By: Steve A http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/01/risk-and-rewardss/comment-page-1/#comment-5476 Steve A Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:57:57 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=2290#comment-5476 Fine, but people are being driven by the same phenomena that has hand sanitizer everywhere you go. THAT is the real problem even if cycling had no risk at all. Groundless and irrational fear. It's real. When I drive to work, nobody tells me to "drive safe" when I leave. When they see a CAR wreck, nobody wonders if it's me. Even my wife doesn't get concerned if I'm a bit late in the Land Rover. The Traffic 101 course was as much for her benefit as mine. Fine, but people are being driven by the same phenomena that has hand sanitizer everywhere you go. THAT is the real problem even if cycling had no risk at all. Groundless and irrational fear. It’s real. When I drive to work, nobody tells me to “drive safe” when I leave. When they see a CAR wreck, nobody wonders if it’s me. Even my wife doesn’t get concerned if I’m a bit late in the Land Rover. The Traffic 101 course was as much for her benefit as mine.

]]> By: Keri http://isocrates.us/bike/2010/01/risk-and-rewardss/comment-page-1/#comment-5473 Keri Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:50:07 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=2290#comment-5473 Well said. And it can't be understated that the majority of cyclists in this country ride in ways that invite conflict. I don't ride on the sidewalk, I don't hug the curb, I make myself visible, especially approaching intersections, I ride with the flow, I never pass trucks on the right, I don't ride in the door zone, I obey traffic controls, I use lights at night... I think my risk is way lower than that of the average cyclist average. Well said. And it can’t be understated that the majority of cyclists in this country ride in ways that invite conflict.

I don’t ride on the sidewalk, I don’t hug the curb, I make myself visible, especially approaching intersections, I ride with the flow, I never pass trucks on the right, I don’t ride in the door zone, I obey traffic controls, I use lights at night…

I think my risk is way lower than that of the average cyclist average.

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