In the past week, more than 60 frequent cyclists participated in my survey about commuter safety. Here’s a summary of their responses. (If you ride a bike and would like to add your own input, you can still access the survey here.)
- 91% of respondents reported wearing a helmet.
- 91% said they use lights.
- 32% reported using reflective gear.
- 51% reported having at least one accident or near miss while riding on city roads.
- 27% explicitly referenced multiple incidents or close calls.
The respondents were also clearly impassioned by the subject of road safety, and were generous with their free responses. Here is a selection of representative comments:
“Have actually clipped a pedestrian who stepped out in front of me from behind a parked car. Couldn’t swerve because I would have gone straight into oncoming traffic.”
“Too many incidents to count. Most common is pedestrians stepping out on to the road without looking, right in front of you, and cars pulling out of junctions without noticing you. Parked cars opening doors right in front of you is fairly common as well.”
“I have been hit by three cars when riding. In every case it was the fault of the driver, who didn’t see me when they pulled out of a junction or from parked. All these incidents happened in daylight.”
“Never had a proper accident, but many near misses due to drivers not seeing me until the last second.”
Quick and dirty analysis: Many respondents were confident in their ability to anticipate and avoid most accidents, but still considered commuter riding to be dangerous. Despite widespread use of safety equipment, participants still thought drivers and pedestrians were frequently unaware of their presence. As a result, many respondents had experienced accidents of varying severity, which frequently resulted in damage or injury.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey so far. Your thoughtful responses are a tremendous help as I continue to develop my new product. Special thanks to the Edinburgh University Cycling Club for their emphatic participation. There’s a clear opportunity to make commuting safer for all road users. I’m going to give it my best shot.