Some feel bicycle crash culpability would not be a raging debate if there were simply better facilities for bicyclists (and pedestrians) in the United States. “Pedestrian and bicyclist safety has been central to transportation and land-use planning in Europe”[2], while “pedestrian and bicyclists injuries and death are a serious health problem that the United States has largely ignored” [2].
But as with many issues, studies have come to opposing conclusions. Streets with bike lanes have been found by some studies to have “a significantly lower crash rate than either major or minor streets without any bicycle facilities” [4,8]. Other studies [9] have found crash rates to be greater after bike lanes were added, compared to the same street before the addition of bike lanes. Note that when comparing different streets with and without bike lanes, one may be measuring effects of other street characteristics (such as greater pavement width) rather than a direct effect of the bike lane stripe itself.
Bike lane skeptics often point to instances where bike lanes are badly designed or installed. Classic examples are bike lanes that route cyclists within the reach of car doors that may suddenly open; and bike lanes that route straight-through cyclists to the right of right-turning motor vehicles (sometimes called a "coffin corner). [10] Clearly, any facility that is installed to promote cycling must never endanger the cyclists it attracts.
Some feel bicycle crash culpability would not be a raging debate if there were simply better facilities for bicyclists (and pedestrians) in the United States. “Pedestrian and bicyclist safety has been central to transportation and land-use planning in Europe”[2], while “pedestrian and bicyclists injuries and death are a serious health problem that the United States has largely ignored” [2].
But as with many issues, studies have come to opposing conclusions. Streets with bike lanes have been found by some studies to have “a significantly lower crash rate than either major or minor streets without any bicycle facilities” [4,8]. Other studies [9] have found crash rates to be greater after bike lanes were added, compared to the same street before the addition of bike lanes. Note that when comparing different streets with and without bike lanes, one may be measuring effects of other street characteristics (such as greater pavement width) rather than a direct effect of the bike lane stripe itself.
Bike lane skeptics often point to instances where bike lanes are badly designed or installed. Classic examples are bike lanes that route cyclists within the reach of car doors that may suddenly open; and bike lanes that route straight-through cyclists to the right of right-turning motor vehicles (sometimes called a "coffin corner). [10] Clearly, any facility that is installed to promote cycling must never endanger the cyclists it attracts.
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