The ugly truth.

[Fenring]

This statistic may be a bit old (source is from 1998), but it's probably not far off:



It's the kind of thing we're all aware of, but don't like to think about it. Lately I find myself thinking that traveling every day to work on the bike maybe isn't as fun as it used to be and the safety factor is starting to weigh on my head.

[motoyoyo]

That's it then, I'm going to have to do a lot less walking.

[bradzdotcom]

i'm selling my bicycle.
friggin' death trap!

[Fenring]

LOL!

Walking probably includes many other dangers that are not traffic related, like getting mauled by a bear and such.

[markjenn]

You'd be a fool not to look at things like this.

Because the vertical axis on this graph is on a per distance traveled basis rather than a per trip or per hour basis, it penalizes walking and bicycling a lot because these activities travel much shorter distances. For example, these statistics say you're 3x more likely to get killed riding a motorcycle across the US rather than a bicycle, but since the bicycle would take 250 hours rather than 50 hours, the bicycle on an hourly exposure basis is actually much safer than these statistics imply. Even more so with walking which looks unduly hazardous on a distance traveled basis. But who walks across the US or does a 60 mile round-trip commute walking? If you did this commute, you'd spend 18 hours a day walking to/from work vs. 1.5 hours driving and you can certainly see how this level of exposure could tilt the odds towards a walking accident.

OTOH, these are average statistics which include a lot of Harley riders riding drunk with no helmets. My guess (that's all it is) is that you can reduce your risk exposure in motorcycling by a factor of 2x or 3x by following a few simple rules: wear a good helmet, don't ride after drinking, don't ride in groups who like to compare penis size, don't ride quickly in traffic, avoid riding at night or in the rain, etc. Do all these things and your motorcycling risk is probably 10x a car vs. the 40x that these statistics say. Of course, you can also do these same things to reduce your risk in the car so, relatively speaking, the car risk is potentially always going to be a small fraction of the motorcycle risk.

And I bet the flying risk is "scheduled commercial service". Fly your own plane and you're back to the left of this chart. (As an aside, I think the ridiculous money we spend on further reducing the minuscule levels of flying risk is stupid. But no politician is going to get elected on the platform of making commercial air travel less safe.)

- Mark

[LWB_Expert]

So if we don't walk or ride our bike we might be okay?

[signit98]

...you'll live forever!

[ckcarr]

I can guarantee that over the last 1 1/2 years more people have been killed in Southeast Utah in tour bus and airplane crashes than riding motorcycles...

[SergioK]

So the lesson is that if you are going sight seeing in Southeast Utah, be sure to follow the Ralf methodology and go via a GS instead of a Bus.

[ckcarr]

I'm not even counting the illegals in their white Dodge vans that are always rolling...

[RoLoo]

...how dangerous is it when I walk, and holding my bicycle...??

[Lars]

The numbers I've seen put flying light aircraft on par, risk-wise, with riding motorcycles.

Same sort of deal though. Cut out the loons and idiots that run out of gas(!), or buzz their girlfriend's house then pull up fighter pilot style, stall and spin into the ground, or decide that it's worth flying through towering thunderstorms because they want to get home so badly only to discover that their airplanes fly about as well as their car keys when the wings are torn off, and the risk doesn't look so bad.

Ultimately it comes down to educating one's self about the risks, then managing them.

[feds27]

I think the comparison would be more fair if they compared the modes of transport on "per billion-hours of operation" instead of "per billion-kilometers of operation".

[markjenn]

Originally Posted by feds27

I think the comparison would be more fair if they compared the modes of transport on "per billion-hours of operation" instead of "per billion-kilometers of operation".

From a "I want to do an activity to have fun" recreational POV, I agree. But from a utilitarian "I want to get from Point A to Point B" transportation POV, the distance basis makes more sense. Both viewpoints are valid. And whichever viewpoint you choose, I can guarantee you that motorcycling is going to look bad.

- Mark

[chewie]

I'm buying an aeroplane. Just a wee one.

fwiw - a coppa mate of mine said that he figured half the deaths on motorbikes were the fault of the rider - no figures to back it up but it wouldn't surprise me.

[signit98]

Originally Posted by roloo

...how Dangerous Is It When I Walk, And Holding My Bicycle...??

69.8%... Duh! :d

[ckcarr]

Originally Posted by chewie

I'm buying an aeroplane. Just a wee one.

fwiw - a coppa mate of mine said that he figured half the deaths on motorbikes were the fault of the rider - no figures to back it up but it wouldn't surprise me.

Sure there's figures. I'm not going to look them up right now, but it's the old story:

Drinking & riding.
Drugs & riding.
Excessive speed.
Riding at night, or too fast at night (beyond headlights).
Failure to negotiate a turn.
Target fixation.
Animals.
Running off the road.
Killing your passenger due to inexperience.

I'd bet 75% are the riders "fault.." Just because you legally can ride at night does not make it equally as safe as riding in the daytime. Or, you hit an animal, it may be considered your fault.

I'm not even going into the atgatt aspects.

The list goes on and on. It seems endless due to miscalculations or brain farts or poor judgement. Be aware, be very aware.


There's an unfortunate rider in the Salt Lake Tribune today who was following a slow moving truck. He couldn't take it and tried to pass the truck on the right. Unfortunately, the trucker decided to pull over on the right just at that point in time; killing the rider by knocking him down and running him over with the rear truck tires.

[Guest24]

So, what are my chances of being killed by a stock market crash.

[wswartzwel]

So the ultimate question here... is do you want your last breath to be riding a motorcycle... of in a plane/train/automoble??


Nail.... depends on how much you lose and what floor you jump from.

[ckcarr]

Yeah,
15% first floor
25% second floor
60% third floor
99.9% fourth on up. May as well go to the top.

No one gets out alive, so do what you like and take the best precautions under the current circumstances.


"Get my broker, Miss Jones." "Yes sir Mr. Nail. Stock, or Pawn?"

How many stockbrokers can you fit in the back of a pickup truck?
Only two, you have to leave room for the lawn mowers.