• theparadox@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 month ago

    You are more likely to die riding a bike than other forms of transportation but riding responsibly and defensively will absolutely change the severity of the stats.

    A driver could still plow through you and you are still more likely to die - I’ll absolutely concede that. You are just way, way more likely to die if you don’t know how to ride (unlicensed), are impaired by alcohol or something, wear no helmet or other gear, and/or ride recklessly or carelessly.

    • BeardedGingerWonder@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 month ago

      The stats are the stats, driving a car everywhere at 15mph and covering it in airbags would probably change the car stats as well. If everyone drove perfectly and maintained their vehicles properly then we’d get a nice flat line.

      You’re way more likely to die if you don’t know how to drive a car or do so drunk as well. The graph is showing the relative unsafeness of various vehicles as a whole, the fact being drunk or dumb on a bike has an outsize impact on killing bikers emphasises the fact it’s less safe.

      I’ve absolutely nothing against bikes or bikers and I’d suspect that overall biker’s deaths are likely to be more self contained and have lesser impact on other road users.