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Biking Safety Numbers in Chicago

I've just read the ATA blog post about Bobby Cann's death (so maddening). The article opens by stating that "[i]n Chicago there are on average 12 people killed each year while biking." I have often wondered about the relative safety of biking versus driving in Chicago. Has anyone worked up these numbers? In other words, I am wondering whether it is safer to bike in Chicago or to drive here. This means I am curious about how the estimated number of bikers and biker deaths per year compares to the estimated number of drivers in Chicago and driver deaths per year here. Has anyone done any work on this? 

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on June 7, 2013 at 7:40am

I am almost positive that number (12) is high.

 

Comparing deaths of cyclists per total cyclist versus deaths of people in vehicles versus total people in vehicles is tricky to compute. I believe there are decent numbers available for cars/mileage/time spent in cars, etc. But less good numbers for bikes. Maybe Steven can find some.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on June 7, 2013 at 8:16am

Agreed. Steven had 2012 Chicago cyclist fatalities at 8, which I believe was the same number as 2011. 

Alex Z said:

I am almost positive that number (12) is high.

 

[snip]

Permalink Reply by David P. on June 7, 2013 at 8:34am

This is probably a bit tough because there is a lot more data for automobile fatalities than there is for cycling fatalities. The best metric is probably fatalities per vehicle per mile driven. I don't think such data really exists in any volume for bicycle fatalities, but if you look at fatalities per mile driven I am pretty sure that the figure for cars is a lot higher. Cycling is one of those things that is, statistically, a lot safer than it seems.

Permalink Reply by David P. on June 7, 2013 at 8:35am
Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on June 7, 2013 at 8:50am

Should we use the bat signal to call him?

Jennifer on the lake said:

This sounds like a job for Steven Vance.

Permalink Reply by David P. on June 7, 2013 at 9:04am
Permalink Reply by Melissa on June 7, 2013 at 10:57am

In other words, I am wondering whether it is safer to bike in Chicago or to drive here.

I think the annual death toll for each is just one possible metric for assessing overall safety.  Luckily, on the input side of the equation there are many variables that are completely within your control for affecting a positive outcome: namely when, where, and how you ride. 

I don't know how the data on injuries and fatalities are collected, but I have a hunch that it is on the conservative side.  Dig: there are more than 2.7 million people in the 234 square-mile area that is Chicago, as well as 1.3 million (registered) vehicles.  I suspect there is more happening in the streets than just the tragedies that we hear about.  One cop told me that he alone gets called to about 4 bike-car incidents a day. 

That said, I think it's possible to bike and be extremely safe. 

Permalink Reply by Agnieszka Z. on June 7, 2013 at 12:19pm

Thanks everyone. You all raise valid points. I am after a crude, but closest possible, estimation--the difficulties related to reporting etc notwithstanding.

Who is this Steve Vance and where is he when we need him? :-) 

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on June 7, 2013 at 12:39pm

If it turns out driving is safer then what?

Permalink Reply by WillG on June 7, 2013 at 12:50pm

I don't think OP is out to prove cycling is safer than driving. What is the point of your question?

Flying is safer than both driving and cycling, now what?

Juan 2-8 mi. said:

If it turns out driving is safer then what?

Permalink Reply by Agnieszka Z. on June 7, 2013 at 1:21pm

It's perfectly legitimate to want to put relative safety of biking in perspective. Whenever I hear about biking fatalities, and learn about lovely people's lives ended, it is of course upsetting. And so I, and fellow bikers I know, wonder about how to put these numbers in perspective. We can do that for car and airplane fatalities; I'm just curious about the mode of transportation that I use the most. 

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on June 7, 2013 at 1:33pm

I know Ben Gomberg has quoted a statistic that "per mile traveled, one is safer on a bike than in a car" but I don't know what his source is.

 

Regarding the number 12-- glad for this thread-- I thought it had been running pretty consistently 6 to 8 a year for the better part of a decade (despite the exponential increase in the number of bikes on the road) and was a bit dismayed to see the number 12 being bandied about (the gal that wrote the ghost rack article used it too.)

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