Comment 117469

By KevinLove (registered) | Posted April 05, 2016 at 19:51:49

One interesting point from the linked article is that there have been zero deaths on bike share bikes in the USA. US bike share programs hit 23 million rides in August 2014 and are probably at about double that number today.

Here is my take on why bike share is so safe.

  1. Safety in numbers. The article talks about this, but only analyses the casuality in one direction, the safety effect of the additional cyclists on the road due to bike share. In my opinion, the casuality goes in both directions. Bike share systems are implemented in areas where there are high levels of existing cycling. These systems therefore take advantage of a pre-existing safety in numbers effect. As we see in the graph from Hamilton Bike Share, average SoBi trips are in the 2-3 km range. So those bikes are not being taken great distances out of the SoBi zone.

  2. Bike design. I see a lot of racing configuration bicycles on the road. These force the user into a head-down position that makes it difficult for the user to see what is going on around him. In a real race, there are race marshals who ensure that the road is clear of obstacles and other road users. In Hamilton, not so much. SoBi bikes are of a safe, practical upright design.

  3. Maintenance. I see a lot of bikes without fenders. If the road is wet, the rider is being showered with water and road filth. What a distraction. I also see a lot of people riding at night without lights. This is moderately disfunctional. Good quality bike lights can be purchased for less than $15. And if someone is not willing to spend $15 for a set of bike lights, I shudder to speculate on the state of maintenance of his brakes.

Comment edited by KevinLove on 2016-04-05 19:53:06

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