Chicago Tribune columnist decries the threat of "scofflaw" cyclists

[PotomacCyclist]

On a different note, but related to the idea of perception and public health and safety:

In the west African countries affected by the widespread Ebola outbreak, car drivers killed more people in the most recent year of reporting than Ebola has killed this year. While the year is not over yet and more are likely to die from Ebola in those countries, it does put things in perspective. There is no large-scale outcry and media-induced panic about all those traffic deaths. Ebola is dangerous and authorities should be doing everything possible to handle the outbreak. But why is it OK to ignore the thousands of deaths caused by car drivers in those very same countries? Why is it such a “nightmare” and “disaster” when Ebola arises here (which it hasn’t except on a limited basis) but 32,000 driver-caused deaths is… OK?

In the U.S., MRSA kills over 10,000 people a year. It is likely to kill far more people in the U.S. this year than Ebola will. But people don’t seem to mind taking and demanding unnecessary antibiotics for viral colds, thereby contributing to the drug resistance problem. No national outcry over this either, although there are low-key recommendations to cut back on the use of unnecessary antibiotic use.

[baiskeli]

FYI, I just happened to read that bikes are legally banned from sidewalks in Chicago, so that’s part of the context. Not sure if this is mentioned in the story (can’t see it without a subscription).

A great response would be “Maybe we should ban cars in Chicago for a day.”

[mstone]

@baiskeli 96289 wrote:

FYI, I just happened to read that bikes are legally banned from sidewalks in Chicago

They should fix that. Yeah, there are some places people shouldn’t ride due to pedestrian density. But Chicago is like any other American city, with places where there are huge roads with dangerous traffic and empty sidewalks. Banning bikes from them is pointless and nothing more than a license for police harassment. Instead of meaningless bans, the focus should be on safe behavior and safe infrastructure.

[jrenaut]

I was in Chicago earlier this year for a long weekend and took a bikeshare bike out for a ride. I was later talking to a friend who lives there and his eyes got wide when I told him where I had ridden. It was pretty early Sunday, and the road I was on was pretty clear, but you could tell at rush hour it would be a highway. But I had zero bad experience with cyclists. A few minor issues with cars trying to kill me.

[dasgeh]

@PotomacCyclist 96288 wrote:

In the west African countries affected by the widespread Ebola outbreak, car drivers killed more people in the most recent year of reporting than Ebola has killed this year. While the year is not over yet and more are likely to die from Ebola in those countries, it does put things in perspective. There is no large-scale outcry and media-induced panic about all those traffic deaths. Ebola is dangerous and authorities should be doing everything possible to handle the outbreak. But why is it OK to ignore the thousands of deaths caused by car drivers in those very same countries? Why is it such a “nightmare” and “disaster” when Ebola arises here (which it hasn’t except on a limited basis) but 32,000 driver-caused deaths is… OK?

On this note, I LOVED the Daily Show segment on A Million Ways to Die in the U.S. I kept waiting (and maybe audibly cheering) for Jon to mention cars (spoiler alert: he doesn’t). But especially in the U.S., we worry about the odd things…

[PotomacCyclist]

Surprisingly enough, Jon Stewart has old-fashioned ideas about city cycling. He seemed to think that it is impossible to bike in NYC without getting killed. He also had concerns about Citi Bike. (After more than a year, there have been no deaths on Citi Bike.) This is based on the interview he did with Robin Williams last year.

[TwoWheelsDC]

It’s an increasingly popular sport, at least with the city’s cyclists.

And there’s the issue…cycling is viewed as a “sport” rather than a “mode of transportation.” But it’s nice outrage-bait for the print media, I guess. Gotta do something to slow the death spiral….

[lordofthemark]

This is an example I think of bikelash being a good sign. Chicago has had dramatic increase in bike infra, a new bike share system, and I think a substantial increase in cycling.

[dasgeh]

@PotomacCyclist 96313 wrote:

Surprisingly enough, Jon Stewart has old-fashioned ideas about city cycling. He seemed to think that it is impossible to bike in NYC without getting killed. He also had concerns about Citi Bike. (After more than a year, there have been no deaths on Citi Bike.) This is based on the interview he did with Robin Williams last year.

Thank you for the excuse to watch the Daily Show on Citi Bike again. It’s awesome.

I imagine Jon personally a “interested but concerned” person, but he’s funny…

[dplasters]

Kicking the idea about, I wondered what the biggest killers were.

126k Americans die in accidents every year. Cool. Where can I see how that breaks down?

34k Motor Vehicle deaths, very interesting. Does that include Pedestrians? What is going on with that?

601 Pedal Cyclists were killed (page 73). Wait, what the hell is a pedal cyclist? And why is there a Pedal Cyclist other? And 272 people are really dying colliding with other things that are not motor vehicles?

ICD 10 Codes? Oh good god really?

Pedal cycle rider injured in collision with pedestrian or animal
Pedal cycle rider injured in collision with other pedal cycle
Pedal cycle rider injured in collision with two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle
Pedal cycle rider injured in collision with car, pick-up truck or van
Pedal cycle rider injured in collision with heavy transport vehicle or bus
Pedal cycle rider injured in collision with railway train or railway vehicle
Pedal cycle rider injured in collision with other nonmotor vehicle
Pedal cycle rider injured in collision with fixed or stationary object
Pedal cycle rider injured in noncollision transport accident
Pedal cycle rider injured in other and unspecified transport accidents

Just in case anyone else was curious. I wanted to save them the time. I’m off to go pedal on my cycle.

[dasgeh]

@dplasters 96348 wrote:

34k Motor Vehicle deaths, very interesting. Does that include Pedestrians? What is going on with that?

Thanks for this. Looks like firearms” are responsible for 32k (Table 12 in this)

So cars kill more than guns. Or don’t kill more than guns don’t kill. Or whatever.

[dplasters]

@dasgeh 96350 wrote:

Thanks for this. Looks like firearms” are responsible for 32k (Table 12 in this)

So cars kill more than guns. Or don’t kill more than guns don’t kill. Or whatever.

The gun stats are always depressing. 20k of those are suicides. Another one of those “we talk about people getting shot in mass shootings / criminals” but most of it is people commuting suicide. But that isn’t really something that makes the news. Like many of the other things on Jon’s list.

People stink at evaluating risk.

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