As an avid cyclist myself, I was fascinated by a recent article in the New York Times titled, “How Safe Is Cycling? It’s Hard to Say.” The article touches on several fascinating points. The first is that we don’t have good data to give us an indication of exactly how dangerous cycling is compared to […]
Category: Bicycle Safety
E-bikes and injury prevention
The ever-problematic struggle between mobility and safety is not exclusive to motorised jurisdictions such as Australia or the United States. Indeed emerging evidence suggests that developing nations are particularly vulnerable as they struggle to develop, implement and enforce road rule strategies to minimise risks to safety whilst maximising the nation’s mobility. Whilst worldwide the demand for […]
Anti helmet legislation revisited… and why replication is important
Another anti helmet legislation argument bites the dust When Ian Walker’s paper appeared in Accid Anal Prev in 2007 purporting to show that cars drove closer to helmeted than unhelmeted cyclists, it was quickly used as another argument against helmet legislation. But for me as a long time cyclist, something did not ring true. Jake […]
U.S. Federal Highway Administration’s new policy informed by cycle track research published in IP
The following is a guest blog post by Anne Lusk, Ph.D. Research Scientist, Harvard School of Public Health, AnneLusk@hsph.harvard.edu Editor note: The incorporation of scientific evidence into policy is a critical element in public health research benefiting populations. This guest blog post highlights one example of research, published in Injury Prevention, which has influenced policy. […]
Sue the cyclist heads for helmet showdown
Australian media have highlighted the plight of Sue Abbott, a cyclist who refuses to wear a helmet and who has been fined for not doing so. The fine is $67 which goes into a special fund to support victims of crime. Consequently, her drivers license has been cancelled and she is now threatened with having […]
Segway safety in the spotlight down under
The controversy-riddled state government in Queensland, Australia, has decided to allow segways to travel on footpaths, infrastructure which until now has been out of bounds to all but pedestrians and children bicyclists. Consistent with bicycle legislation, segway riders will be required to wear helmets. In addition, they must not exceed the soon-to-be mandated speed limit […]
The never-ending bike helmet saga
The debate about the effectiveness of bicycle helmets seems endless. There has now been a Cochrane review, a meta-analysis by Attewell et al., and a re-analysis of this meta-analysis by Rune Elvik (one of the editors of Accident Analysis and Prevention (AAP). As well, after Tim Churches, an Australian epidemiologist attempted unsuccessfully to reproduce Elvik’s […]
Taking helmets seriously
Some of us take helmet wearing seriously. This is one of our granddaughters, Emma, age 5. We have had one day of spring so the pink and white bike was brought out. Please note Emma’s helmet, and, just as importantly, that which she made on her poupee (doll). Let this be a lesson to all. […]