Study Notes Accident Trends in Cycling

A BFOC fan pointed us to this recent Freakonomics article regarding bicycle accidents. If you forward to the site they referenced (Project Freeride), they break down in greater depth the accidents and their causes, and cite risks associated in other countries. Intersections, of course, being the most common areas (which is the same for pedestrians, bicycles, and cars). As we’ve highlighted in the past, European countries and cities in the US that have adopted bicycle infrastructure have come up with the most creative techniques for calming traffic at intersections and making drivers slow dramatically at turns, or stop altogether before bicycles (as seen in Portland’s new bike boxes). Other telling findings include:

- Streets with bike lanes have significantly lower crash rates then either major or minor streets without any bicycle facilities (38 and 56% respectively)

- Data from Canada suggests that provinces that have invested the most in cycling tend to have the highest rates of cycling and also the lowest rates cycling mortality. Quebec has invested more than any other province on cycling. For the period 1987 to 2000, the total number of bicycles in Quebec more than doubled, and the number of regular cyclists increased by 50%, while cycling fatalities fell by 42%, serious injuries fell by 56%, and minor injuries fell by 38%

- According the British Medical Journal, the most important deterrent to riding bikes expressed by non-cyclists is fear of motor traffic. (a recent US study cites the same)

- Data from Europe also suggests that counties that have invested the most in cycling tend to have the highest rates of cycling and also the lowest rates cycling mortality

- All surveys in both Canadian and American cities clearly indicate that more separate cycling facilities—bike paths and lanes—would most encourage people to cycle.

- U.S. cyclists are three times more likely to be killed than German cyclists and six times more than Dutch cyclists, whether compared per-trip or per-distance traveled

- Dr. Ian Walker (a professor at the University of Bath in the in the UK) attached a proximity sensor to his bike and spend a year measuring how close vehicles were when they overtook him on his daily commute to work. Some of his findings(16):
o Motorists overtook more closely when he wore a helmet than when he didn’t.
o Cars gave him the most room, trucks less room and buses the least room of all.
o By wearing a wig, he found that cars gave him more room when he appeared to be a female cyclist.

- As levels of pedestrian and bicyclist activity rise their per capita risk falls. Drivers adapt their behavior in the presence of increased cycling and walking.

- Authorities on both sides of the helmet debate generally agree that helmet use is not nearly as important in preventing injuries as proper cycling infrastructure such as protected bike lanes (18, 20, 21). In fact, cities such as Amsterdam that have invested in cycling infrastructure have the lowest rates of cycling accidents (6) despite having very low rates of helmet use (about 0.1%)

- Poor cycling infrastructure and safety are much larger deterrents to bicycling than poor weather.

Studio 411 Open House This Thursday. 10% of Proceeds Go to Cyclesomatic!

The new Studio 411 is opening up across the street from the Oak Cliff Bicycle Company on Tyler Street this Thursday and will be hosting a trunk show. Studio 411 is the new venture combining the guys from House of Dang, and Tara Tonini. You may remember Tara from a recent post we made detailing the cool new bicycle hats and caps she’s made that are now being sold at the OCBC. Tara is also planning a line of other bicycle-themed goods which we’ll be profiling here as well. 10% of all proceeds from sales go to Cyclesomatic, so it’s a perfect time to pick up some cool new wares!

Pics from Last Night’s Critical Mass Ride

One of our favorite shutterbugs, Can Turkyilmaz, uploaded some nice pics from last night’s critical mass ride:

More pics on facebook here.

Bike vs. Bus Study in Cartoon Format

Ran across this on Copenhagenize.com:

This person in Brisbane charted out the time/costs/etc. for traveling to work via bus, and via bicycle for one week respectively. Would love to see a similar chart by people in Dallas, including traveling by car. For me personally, I know the cost in gas+parking downtown+amortized monthly car payment is more than a daily two-way local bus/light-rail pass. It would also be interesting to see calories burned by each method.

BFOC Letter

(image from Copenhagencyclechic.com)

Just received this great letter from a fan of BFOC:

“I’m SO excited to see a bicycle blog in the area promoting everyday cycling over the lycra and racing themed ones I’m used to seeing. My best friend and I started riding again after visiting St. Paul this summer and were impressed with how many average guys and girls were bicycling throughout the city. Most of the girls wore skirts and dresses and ran all of their errands on bike. Before seeing that, bicycling as an adult always seemed like a turnoff because the clothes and bikes seemed only geared toward athletic men, and completely took away a girl’s femininity. Glad to see so many others sporting baskets and bells out there. Thanks again, and count us in for all future rides!”

Critical Mass Ride Announced for this Friday

via pedallas.com:

Felt’s Bicycle Coffee Cup Holder

While on vacation, we ran into an incredible bike shop in Durango, Colorado, that featured a large selection of Felt’s hip Cafe model bikes. These are a stylish, European inspired line that come with the standard utalitarian racks and fenders you’d expect from a sleek commuter. With that being said, the standout feature for me, hands down, was the simple coffee cup holder attached to the front handlebars. This single, obvious piece of equipment, is what I’ve been looking for on my morning fog-induced rides into downtown, on those occasions I didn’t want to scramble for an aluminum thermous tucked into my frame’s bottle holder. Fortunately, the accessory is available sans-bike for under $15 via Felt’s website.

“Bike: Sculpture” exhibit Reception Today

If you’re out an about tonight, be sure to check out artist Robertus Van der Wege’s reception tonight, free, from 5PM to 7PM. Robertus has recently become involved with Cyclesomatic and will be showcasing pieces throughout the event. Tonight’s exhibit is held at the Art Institute of Dallas and features some incredible work. More details here.

B.I.K.E. the Movie, Set to Open Cyclesomatic on Oct. 2nd

The 10 day bicycle festival, Cyclesomatic, will be hosting events for all ages and types of riders. With that in mind, on the evening of October 2nd, the 75208 bike group will be leading a ride from Downtown to the Texas Theatre, and will be hosting the film B.I.K.E, geared toward the underground bicycle community. It’s been featured in New York, Austin’s Alamo Draughthouse, Amsterdam and more, and finally coming to Dallas. The Chicago Tribune review states:

“This weird, jazzy documentary is like a vegan, anti-consumerist version of a movie like “The Fast and the Furious.” Its subject: the New York chapter of a Minneapolis-based bicycle gang called Black Label Bike Club, which subscribes to an energy-saving, recycling lifestyle while dressing and acting like their shaggy gas-guzzler counterparts, the motorized biker gangs. The BLBC guys also conduct jousting tournaments, where the riders, like modern knights, ride on 6-foot-tall bikes and ram each other with makeshift staffs. Co-director Anthony Howard makes himself a James Dean figure here, a bit of hubris, but you won’t see anything like this soon.”

It’s not for the faint of heart, and definitely carries an R rating, so be advised. View the website for the film here, and a trailer here.

Oct. 3rd Group Ride: Hellhound On My Trail

As part of our week long Cyclesomatic Bicycle Festival, BFOC presents the third group ride in our history themed series, Hellhound On My Trail. This time, we’ll be highlighting the blues and western swing past of Dallas. Once again, we’ll begin our ride at Dealey Plaza and the grassy knoll at 2:30PM on Saturday, October 3rd. Be sure to arrive a few minutes early, as these history-themed group rides have been getting pretty large (our last one had 300 in attendance). Later that night, pedal over to the Texas Theatre at 7PM to check out the film “Beer Wars”, sponsored by New Belgium Brewery and Eno’s.

The group ride will take us through downtown Dallas and into the cradle of Dallas music history, “Deep Ellum”. From there, we’ll head over to 508 Park Avenue where the legendary Robert Johnson recorded, through the Cedars area to Bob Wills’ Longhorn Ballroom, across the scenic Corinth Street bridge, and onto the stomping grounds of T-Bone Walker. We’ll stop in the Bishop Arts for drinks, and end our tour passing Methodist Hospital, birthplace of Stevie Ray Vaughan.

The ride is approximately 9.5 miles, with some small and medium sized hills. This ride will be weather permitting. Check back prior to the ride date for updates.

The following link is a map of our proposed route: http://tr.im/tjlk

There’s also a Facebook group event for the ride here.