Safety in Numbers

The online blog Cycling in Singapore has noted from some websites that as bicycle ridership increases, the number of fatalities decreases.

Statistics show that in 1998, daily ridership in New York City was 80,000 and the number of casualties was 5000. However, when ridership doubled to 160,000 in 2007, the number of casualties decreased to around 2500. That means when the number of people cycling doubles, the number of casualties drops by half.



Photo: Streetsblog.org

Another blog (How We Drive) where the picture came from, also reported the following:

1. London has seen a 91% increase in cycling since 2000 and a 33% fall in cycle casualties since 1994-98. This means that cycling in the city is 2.9 times safer than it was previously.

2. The Netherlands has witnessed a 45% increase in cycling from 1980-2005 and a 58% decrease in cyclist fatalities.

So what does this mean? The blog Cycling in Singapore says that just because cycling seems dangerous in Singapore, the safety in numbers argument reassures us that we are not being irresponsible to promote more cycling, because the more people use bicycles the safer it will become for each individual bicycle user.

I think the implications of the "safety in numbers" effect goes beyond that. The benefits of cycling is already well proven. Individuals who cycle often save time, money, and get healthier. However, each additional individual who cycles raises the level of benefits for each and every bicycle user, although the user himself does not directly benefit from it. It is therefore wise for the government itself to promote cycling as a lifestyle, form of transportation, and a way of life.

Cycling in New York

The New York Times has had several interesting articles on cycling in the Big Apple.

1. Bless the Cyclist, on Your Left!

Clear skies and warm weather drew more than 100 cyclists to the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine on Saturday morning for the Blessing of the Bikes, an event now in its 11th year.
The crowd — a conscientious-looking collection of helmeted riders and bikes with bells, reflectors and rear-view mirrors — gathered in front of the Upper West Side cathedral and would soon enter to be sprinkled with Holy Water as a shield against the dangers of urban cycling.

2. Commuter Cycling is Soaring

Based on figures from an annual count of bicyclists conducted since 1984, the New York City Department of Transportation announced on Thursday that commuter cycling rose a remarkable 35 percent between 2007 and 2008.

3. Mixed Returns for High-End Cycling

In New York, some bike shops and trainers have felt the effects of the recession, yet others have expanded.

4. For some cyclists, storage is the biggest challenge

In a city of tight living quarters and unaccommodating corporate towers, the biggest cycling challenge can be finding a good place to store one’s ride when it is not in use.

Well, I'm thankful for Bike Boutique in Singapore's Chinatown!

Make harassment of cyclists illegal

"Harassment by motorists is one of the reasons people stop cycling. They don’t want to get cursed at or threatened. They’d rather just stop."

According to Kansas City News, one Missouri college town that takes pride in its bike-friendly status is threatening jail time for motorists who aren’t so friendly.

The Columbia City Council heard from a steady succession of cyclists who’ve been victims of road rage — including a bike shop owner who was pistol-whipped — before unanimously approving a new ordinance Monday night. It makes harassing cyclists a misdemeanor, punishable by stiff fines or a year in jail.

Similar laws are on the books in Colorado, Nevada and South Carolina, and a Louisiana proposal is awaiting the governor’s signature. National cycling advocates suggest that Columbia, home to the University of Missouri and its 30,000 students, is one of the few local governments to follow suit.

Click here to read the full article. Great if Singapore can enact such a law.