What are the odds?
It’s a fact. There are some inherent risks with cycling. Every time I mount my bike, I’m acutely aware that something could happen. Case in point is the worse injury I’ve really ever had was a broken collar bone from a bike accident. A stinking wienie dog ran out in front of my bike and I hit it. That’s right. A six inch tall dachshund. Don’t tell anyone, but when I tell the story, it’s usually an 80 pound rottweiler that took me out!
But, it’s not really all that scary out there. If you know how to ride safely and responsibly, I actually believe your odds of arriving at your destination safely are pretty darn high. In fact, I ran across these statistics a while ago that are pretty interesting. The numbers come from a study by the National Safety Council. They look at the lifetime odds of dying by various causes.
According to them, the lifetime odds of dying in a bike accident are 1 in 4,147. Compare that to:
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Lightening: 1 in 81, 701
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Fire: 1 in 1,235
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Drowning: 1 in 1,073
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Car crashes (occupant): 1 in 272
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Self harm: 1 in 115
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Car crashes (overall): 1 in 85
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Stroke: 1 in 28
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Cancer: 1 in 7
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Heart Disease: 1 in 6
Overall, I think I’m liking my odds. Obviously, cycling and exercise will help me beat the odds of health related problems, and when you look at all the other stuff out there that can harm me, cycling isn’t really all that scary!
God bless….
TW
Tags: bicycle, Bike Commute, Bike Safety, Cycling, Fitness
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February 11, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Very interesting. Conversely, virtually every cyclist who has put any time in the saddle has experienced “The Big One:” an accident that results in broken bones and a possible near-death experience. So far, I haven’t had my event. I know that with each passing ride, the odds continue to swing against me. Here’s hoping it comes in another 20 years and is only a hairline fracture to my pinky finger!
February 11, 2011 at 5:15 pm
Actually, I believe the chances of dying in a car crash are greater than on a bike. That’s if we exclude all car crash factors EXCEPT drowning after the car goes into the drink. Be VERY careful around those bridges!
February 12, 2011 at 11:05 am
I think it is safe to say that the public’s perception of safety and cycling doesnt’ match these numbers, which leads to less cyclists on the roads and trails. I think the stats overall would support that the more cyclists out and about, the more the public perceptions gets changed positively toward a reduced risk when cycling. I guess it would be pretty boring news items to report that “ol Bobby Joe” rode from work to home without incident or that Sarah Sue Smith had a really nice ride to the grocery store and nothing bad happened…
- Zeke
February 14, 2011 at 8:40 am
Ha! With the title and then scrolling past the first picture, I thought you were about to say you’d been in an accident. I wholeheartedly agree with your risk assessment.