The Curious Reasons Why Bike Share Is So Safe

Inexperienced riders are a feature, not a bug, of bike-share systems across the country, which seem to be safer not only than regular bikes, but riding in a car as well.

Divvy Week kicks off on Friday; 24-hour passes are free. It’s a chance to try it if you’re still skeptical, which… maybe still people are? Mary Wisniewski writes in the Tribune:

Oh, those Divvy riders — some of them look like organ donations waiting to happen.

No helmets. Riding like spawning salmon against the flow of traffic. Consulting tourist guides on busy streets, or riding in sightseeing pairs, oblivious to the aggravated commuters behind them.
But….

But something surprising has happened — there have been zero fatalities in the United States since the first bike-share program started in Tulsa, Okla., in 2007, compared with the overall U.S. fatality rate of 21 per 100 million bicycle trips, according to a study funded and released last month by the Mineta Transportation Institute. The study also found that the rates of collision and injury among bike-sharing participants were lower than rates among regular bicyclists.

For the full article go here: http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/April-2016/The-Curious-Reasons-...

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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on April 21, 2016 at 4:56am

Still clearly undefined as to why. Curious as it may be seeing Divvy riders riding in all sorts of stupid ways.

Permalink Reply by Maurice on April 21, 2016 at 8:03am
I think drivers assume that they're idiots and give them a wider berth. This extra layer of protection somehow keeps them alive, even when they're Divvying on Lake Shore Drive and the Dan Ryan.
Permalink Reply by Jeremy on April 21, 2016 at 8:51am

I am glad to see it didn't take long for the "Divvy riders are stupid" trope to make its appearance.

As a regular rider of Divvy bikes, I agree with the article that the gearing (and weight) of the bikes help make riding one safer because it is hard to get to a fast speed.  An inattentive car driver can be surprised by a cyclist approaching from behind.

Maneuverability is also more difficult, preventing weaving through traffic.  Assuming they are working, Divvy bikes also have lights built in, increasing visibility and preventing a rider from ninja-ing.

I personally feel safer on a Divvy because I sit more upright and have the ability to easily dismount due to the step-through frame.  If I encounter a dangerous situation on my hybrid, I would be hunched over and have to clear one leg over the frame, which would likely lead to a fall on concrete.

Permalink Reply by Kara B on April 21, 2016 at 9:07am

i inexplicably feel much safer when i'm riding a divvy - even without a helmet - than i do riding my own bike - interesting to see the data backs this up. 

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