Nothing to Fear…
With the number of heated discussions related to bicycle safety that
circulate around the internet, one might get the impression that riding a
bicycle is dangerous. The statistics say otherwise. Following is a
list compiled by Failure Analysis Associates, Inc. (Design News, 10-4-93) that compares the fatal risk associated with participating in various activities:
| Activity | Fatalities Per Million Hours |
| Skydiving | 128.71 |
| General Aviation | 15.58 |
| On-road Motorcycling | 8.80 |
| Scuba Diving | 1.98 |
| Living (all causes of death) | 1.53 |
| Swimming | 1.07 |
| Snowmobiling | .88 |
| Automobile Driving | .47 |
| Water Skiing | .28 |
| Bicycling | .26 |
| Flying (domestic airlines) | .15 |
| Hunting | .08 |
I’ve seen other similar lists, and while the numbers and activities
may vary a bit, the overall message is the same: bicycling is relatively
safe when compared to other common activities. So, for those who are
unsure about bicycling, educate yourself, make informed choices about
your equipment, ride responsibly, and get out there and have fun; the benefits of bicycling far outweigh the risks!
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