Bicyclists and Other Cyclists |
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Bicyclists and other cyclists include riders of two-wheel non-motorized vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles powered solely by pedals. Throughout the remainder of this fact sheet the term pedalcyclists will be used to identify these cyclists.
The first automobile crash in the United States occurred in New York City in 1896, when a motor vehicle collided with a pedalcycle rider (Famous First Facts, by Joseph Kane). More than 49,000 pedalcyclists have died in traffic crashes in the United States since 1932 — the first year in which estimates of pedalcyclist fatalities were recorded. The 350 pedalcyclists killed in 1932 accounted for 1.3 percent of the 27,979 persons who died in traffic crashes that year. In 2005, 784 pedalcyclists were killed and an additional 45,000 were injured in traffic crashes. Pedalcyclist deaths accounted for 2 percent of all traffic fatalities, and pedalcyclists made up 2 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes during the year. The number of pedalcyclist fatalities in 2005 was 6 percent lower than the 833 fatalities reported in 1995. The highest number of pedalcyclist fatalities ever recorded in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) was 1,003 in 1975. Pedalcyclists accounted for 13 percent of all non-motorist traffic fatalities in 2005. Figure 1
Table 1
Pedalcyclist fatalities occurred more frequently in urban areas (69%), at non-intersection locations (70%), between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m. (31%), and during the months of June, July, and August (31%). Age In 1995, the average age of pedalcyclists killed in traffic crashes was 29.7; in 2005 the average age of those killed was 38.5. In contrast, in 1995 the average age of those injured was 22.7 and the average age of those injured in 2005 was 29. Pedalcyclists under age 16 accounted for 18 percent of all pedalcyclists killed and 35 percent of those injured in traffic crashes in 2005. In comparison, pedalcyclists under age 16 accounted for 34 percent of all those killed in 1995. Pedalcyclists 25 years of age and older have made up an increasing proportion of all pedalcyclist deaths since 1995. The proportion of pedalcyclist fatalities age 25 to 64 was 1.3 times higher in 2005 as in 1995 (59% and 46%, respectively). Nearly one-fifth (17%) of the pedalcyclists killed in traffic crashes in 2005 were between 5 and 15 years old. The pedalcyclist fatality rate for this age group in 2005 was 3.0 per million population — about 14 percent higher than the rate for all pedalcyclists (2.64 per million population). The injury rate for this age group was 345 per million population, compared with 153 per million population for pedalcyclists of all ages. Alcohol-Related Data
Alcohol involvement — either for the driver or the pedalcyclist — was reported in more than one-third of the traffic crashes that resulted in pedalcyclist fatalities in 2005. In 30 percent of the crashes, either the driver or the cyclist was reported to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. Lower alcohol levels (BAC .01 to .07 g/dL) were reported in an additional 5 percent. Over one-fourth (27%) of the pedalcyclists killed had a BAC of .01 g/dL or higher, and over one-fifth (23%) had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher. Gender Most of the pedalcyclists killed or injured in 2005 were males (87% and 80%, respectively), and most were between the ages of 5 and 44 years (57% and 72%, respectively). In 2005, the pedalcyclist fatality rate per capita was almost 7 times higher for males than for females, and the injury rate per capita was more than 4 times higher for males. Table 3 - Pedalcyclist Traffic Fatalities and Fatality Rates by State, 2005 Important Safety Reminders All bicyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash. Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. When cycling in the street, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic. Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists. Be courteous – allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals. Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right. Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn, and dusk. To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.
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