Think on the studies of a company that performs safety and failure testing, once called the Failure Group and now called Exponent. The company considered a selection of past-times and calculated that the number of fatalities per million hours of exposure was 0.26 for riding, 0.47 for driving, 1.53 for living (all causes of death), and 8.80 for motor biking. To put it another way, they found that the hazards of riding were about 50% that associated with driving and a sixth of that connected with simply with being alive.
Disappointingly, the precise methods Exponent used are secret, and the whole paper isn't available to the public, but rest assured that this isn???t a fly-by-night riders' advocacy organization that???s cooking the numbers. As the company details on its website, it has been trusted to consider high-profile misfortunes such as the sabotage of the federal building in Oklahoma City.
So, for the effect of argument, let us claim that the Failure Associates work is an underestimation and debate another detailed study that measures the dangers using a slightly different metric??"the number of deaths per billions of kilometres moved instead of per hour of exposure. The Rutgers University researchers who completed this study concluded that, per kilometre travelled, bicycling deaths are eleven times as high as automobile occupant fatalities. Seems quite grim for riding until you look at what the same study discovered about walking. Walking deaths per kilometre travelled were 36 times as high as driving kills, suggesting that walking is more than three times as risky as pedalling.
However, there is still more that bikers can do to take accountability for our protection. A disturbing 24 percent of fatal bicycle accidents involve an drunken cyclist. Work shows that cyclists get into many smaller accidents that could be prevented. Various articles have shown that the failure to use lights at night or a helmet significantly increases a riders risk. Finally, newer riders should be really careful about cars opening doors and taking turns, and about riding on the pavements.
The bottom line: Its not that riding doesn't have danger, but with some perspective is in required, more so when you start to count the many health advantages that cycling enables.
2. Distance is too great. The ride might take too long or take too much effort if you live further than, say, 13 miles from work. But consider ways to increase your potential range. Most commuters, for example, use folding bicycles so they can go partway on a morning train.
3. I'll need an expensive cycle. Wrong. You should be able to get a new or used bike ideal for basic commuting for below $500. Find a good, local cycle shop with a knowledgeable staff, discuss the route and length of ride youre considering, and they'll help you choose the proper frame and number of gears youll want.
If youre just beginning, you should look for a functional, commuter bike that has fenders to protect your pants, a stand, and a comfy saddle. And, if youre really looking for a easy ride, take a gander at the new class of coasting bicycles that are designed to remind people with carefree memories of riding as a child. They feature pedal brakes called coaster brakes instead of hand brakes and an automatic shifter, and although they are not designed for quickness, theyre a great way to get reacquainted with the saddle, says Doyne.
4. Its impossible to tote the gear I require. If this is what you think, you are carrying way more than the normal cyclist to work or you don???t own the proper bag or features on your bike. A good basket or touring panniers will mean you can easily carry a laptop, change of clothes, lunch, paperwork, a slew of binders, and any other bits and bobs you usually carry.
5. There isn't anywhere to scrub up. Jeff Peel of the League of American Bicyclists says that most cyclists do worry over this, but that there are numerous other solutions beyond simply showing up at the office stinky and sticky. First, look to ensure that your building doesnt have a full bathrooms somewhere. If it doesn???t, look for nearby gyms or fitness clubs. Many offer shower-only memberships for cycling or running commuters.
6. Biking will make me impotent. This is a charge that has circulated since the mid 1990s, and theres a kernel of fact to it. There is proof that professional bike riders may experience temporary and maybe long-lasting erectile dysfunction if they log many hours on a racing saddle that doesnt fit well. But there are now plenty of saddles with specially designed cutaway grooves that remove the pressure off the key arteries and nerves. As long as your saddle fits properly and you dont ride as much as a professional rider training for the Tour de France, cycling is more apt to lower the chances of erectile dysfunction than raise them, since riding will assist keep cardiovascular disease a major creator of erectile dysfunction.
The author rides to work with his 3 year old infant on a Safe-T-Seat, the baby bike seat and enjoys every minute of it!
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