WBEZ asks (and doesn't answer) How risky is bike riding in Chicago?

WBEZ's Curiouscity airs interesting points but fails to really answer an unaswerable question.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Gray on September 25, 2013 at 11:58am
Permalink Reply by globalguy on September 25, 2013 at 12:36pm

Isn't that logic like saying you can't estimate the risk of driving, flying, or any other form of transportation?

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 25, 2013 at 2:10pm

What a goof.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on September 25, 2013 at 2:30pm

Very disappointing segment. The story left the impression that "cycling is dangerous, cyclists have no business on the street, don't do it."

Waste of airtime.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on September 25, 2013 at 2:34pm

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 25, 2013 at 3:22pm

Steve Vance's extended quote was the best part.

mike w. said:

Very disappointing segment. The story left the impression that "cycling is dangerous, cyclists have no business on the street, don't do it."

Waste of airtime.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on September 25, 2013 at 3:34pm

Agreed. The only worthwhile part of the piece.
 
Anne Alt said:

Steve Vance's extended quote was the best part.

mike w. said:

Very disappointing segment. The story left the impression that "cycling is dangerous, cyclists have no business on the street, don't do it."

Waste of airtime.

Permalink Reply by Dan Korn on September 25, 2013 at 6:47pm

Well, I think that the piece made a good point, which Steven talked about, that even if we had scientific crash statistics (which are more than just collections of anecdotes), the idea of how "risky" something is, and what kinds of risks we consider acceptable, are subjective value judgements.

Personally, I wish they had done more to point out that all of these crashes they're talking about are not bike crashes, they're car crashes.  Bobby Cann's girlfriend gave up cycling and started walking to work instead, and I can't say I blame her since it's so personal for her, but fifty pedestrians are killed by cars every year in Chicago too.  The problem behind all of this is cars.

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on September 26, 2013 at 3:16am

Even though I claim to not believe in superstition, I'm loathe to admit this publicly in fear of bringing about a terrible end to my own record, but I too have had no crashes with any other object while riding a bike in my 17ish years of riding and bike commuting. I think that a person on a bike can choose to ride in a way that helps to minimize the chances of crashes. Of course, I also believe that anyone on a bike can be the victim of horrible decisions made by other people (like drunk drivers or otherwise reckless drivers) and that's always the lurking fear. 

 

I found it interesting that the glider pilot in the BEZ piece believes that it's too dangerous to ride a bike in the city, but then I personally know people who ride motorcycles and swim in open water but are too afraid to ride bikes on the north side. Sometimes risk assessment is too visceral and personal a calculation to be explained.
 
Jeff Schneider said:

I have ridden almost every day that it was possible during the last seven years, logging about 30k miles in Chicago, mostly from the Loop north and from Logan Square east to the lake.  Over that time, I was not injured.  I didn't even have a collision with anyone or any thing.

I am experienced and careful - probably also lucky.  But I cannot be so much smarter and luckier than everyone else.  There must be many more people with similar history.

I don't consider biking in Chicago - with the proper care - especially dangerous.


Daniel G said:

This is a pretty easily answerable question. Poll people who've been riding here for one, five, and ten years. Ask out how many have had crashes, and the nature of those crashes. Write this down. Bam! Usable data. Riders of variable experience levels can know how likely they are to experience a crash in any given year.

Surprising that they didn't much bother. Come on, BEZ. On the plus side, their old manager sucked and is now gone. Maybe those obnoxious ads on buildings can start coming down as well.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 26, 2013 at 6:16am

I agree. I've often found it ironic when someone chooses an activity that's commonly perceived as risky (such as motorcycle riding) but is freaked out by the idea of riding a bicycle in traffic.  Different strokes...

Michelle Stenzel said:

I found it interesting that the glider pilot in the BEZ piece believes that it's too dangerous to ride a bike in the city, but then I personally know people who ride motorcycles and swim in open water but are too afraid to ride bikes on the north side. Sometimes risk assessment is too visceral and personal a calculation to be explained.
 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on September 26, 2013 at 7:00am

I think you are right, Jeff.  It is not so many moons ago that I started riding again, and for a while I spent most of my time figuring out braking and shifting and balance and how to get where I wanted to go.  I perceived riding as more risky then.  I am still learning, but am much more able to manage my risk, and I no longer perceive riding as so risky.  (Except on the LFP during the summer afternoons.  Nothing will ever change that!)
 
Jeff Schneider said:

I suspect that perceived risk varies inversely with perceived control.  As an experienced cyclist, the mechanics of riding the bike are second nature, so I can concentrate on watching traffic.  I am familiar with the typical situations that endanger cyclists, and know how to avoid them.  This gives me the perception that I have significant control over events.  So, I feel safe biking in heavy traffic in a big city.

OTOH, carnival rides freak me out, even though statistically, they are quite safe.  But there I have no more control than a sack of potatoes...
 
  

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on September 26, 2013 at 7:15am

Your perception of risk on the LFP during summer afternoons is both accurate and just good sense. 

Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi said:

[snip]  I am still learning, but am much more able to manage my risk, and I no longer perceive riding as so risky.  (Except on the LFP during the summer afternoons.  Nothing will ever change that!)
 

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