The Dangers of the Cycling Trend

“I want to ride my bicycle!” Queen lamented the desire for this healthy pastime in 1978, and the popularity of cycling has only grown more in the last 30 years. In fact, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of cyclists in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 2008. 

With over 67 million people riding around Farmington, Phoenix and every other town in America, the number of accidents has also increased. Most cycling injuries are the result of an auto accident and a growing number of these injuries are resulting in lawyer costs, or worse—even death.

CBS News reported on a study by Jason Vargo of the University of Wisconsin-Madison last month on the increased fatality rate for cyclists in the U.S. In the last 40 years, death rates for adults aged 35 to 54 have tripled. In 2013, 743 cyclists were killed and 48,000 injuries were reported.

This number might seem minuscule compared to the amount of civilians killed in other traffic-related accidents every year, but it’s something to pay attention to, especially from the perspective of an auto accident lawyer. Cyclists who feel they have been wrongfully injured or suffer wrongful death will undoubtedly begin to seek more compensation. 

With environmental consciousness on the rise, cycling has become even more popular in commuter cities like Farmington, Utah. In Vargo’s study, the number of people who traveled to work by bicycle increased by 61 percent from 2000-2012. 

Due to this fact and the increase in cycling-related auto accident and lawyer reports, larger cities such as New York, Chicago and Seattle have funded more bike lane construction projects. In some instances, an entire lane of a highway will be removed to provide ample space for cyclists. In smaller cities such as Farmington and Salt Lake City, Utah, bike lanes are located in the shoulder or simply dictated by a painted green line.

Cost for bike lane construction is minimal compared to other city projects such as widening freeways. But will more bike lanes mean fewer cycling-related auto accident reports? A study by researchers in British Columbia argues that providing cyclists with their own space can reduce injury and subsequent lawyer costs by up to 90 percent. 

Still, with the cycling trend on the rise, riders will need to continue to take the proper precautions, whether pedaling through rural Farmington or a booming metropolis.

Emily Culp is a legal writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry.