Cycling safety
The Herald reports on a nice comparison of Accident Compensation Commission claims rates for cycling and other activities. Michael Chieng, an Auckland medical student, found that the risk of a ACC claim was 35 times higher per rugby game than per two hour cycle ride, with cycling also safer than skiing and horseriding. The health benefits of cycling are almost certainly greater than the risks, which is why helmet laws aren’t very good public health interventions.
It’s still a bit unfortunate that cycling was compared only to recreational activities, not to other ways of getting from point A to point B. I’m pretty sure that it’s less safe than walking or riding a bus. Also, unlike rugby and skiing, cycling in New Zealand is a lot more dangerous than it should be.
Sadly, I do have to point out, yet again, that there is not only no link to the research, there doesn’t even seem to be a source to link to.
Thomas Lumley (@tslumley) is Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Auckland. His research interests include semiparametric models, survey sampling, statistical computing, foundations of statistics, and whatever methodological problems his medical collaborators come up with. He also blogs at Biased and Inefficient See all posts by Thomas Lumley »
In Portland, Oregon, we followed a cohort of 1000 adults who routinely commuted to work and school by bicycle. Cyclists were followed for a year, and reported their riding experience and injuries to us on a monthly basis via the web. The average incidence of injury was 20% per year, equivalent to an injury once every five years of commuting. Wearing a helmet during a crash event reduced the risk of serious trauma 70%. More information can be found in the published article: Journal of Trauma, November 2010, 69(5):1112-7 with discussion 1117-9. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e3181f990a1. “Bicycle commuter injury prevention: It is time to focus on the environment”. Authors: Hoffman MR, Lambert WE, Peck EG, Mayberry JC.
11 years ago