It’s common knowledge that you’re more likely to die in a car accident than in a plane crash. But what about on your bike? We don’t mean to scare you with hubbub about on-road ignorance by drivers and society, anti-pedestrian sentiment, and downed cyclists. On the contrary, we want you to ride your bike, and the truth is that it’s one of the safest modes of transport. In fact, a recent study by the National Safety Council shows that the odds of dying from cancer, a stroke, or a motor vehicle accident are far greater than death by bike.
Here are the odds of death, in a nutshell:
Motor Vehicle Accident = 1 in 84
Pedestrian Accident = 1 in 626
Bicycling Accident = 1 in 4,919
Apart from running the risk of dying in a fatal car crash, drivers and passengers in motor vehicles are causing more self-inflicted harm by sullying the air they breathe and staying sedentary. The odds of dying from heart disease? One in five.
For another perspective on the dangers of driving vs cycling, check out our earlier post that shows it’s More Dangerous to NOT Ride a Bike.