On Sun, 17 Nov 2013 18:11:12 +0000, Phil W Lee
wrote:

Frank Krygowski considered Fri, 15 Nov 2013
08:33:10 -0800 (PST) the perfect time to write:

On Friday, November 15, 2013 2:51:51 AM UTC-5, James wrote:

You may be correct of course, that it is a random variation. It could
also be that the toll has been unusually low over the past few years.
I'd expect the fatality to injury ratio to remain pretty constant,
wouldn't you agree?

In that case, given the chart he (don't know if you can access that
overseas?)

http://reporting.tacsafety.com.au/s/search.html?collection=tac-xml-meta&query=%21padrenull&form=template-report-graph&chart_type=line&x-axis=Date&y-axis=Age+Range+-+Serious+Injuries&meta_d3day=1&meta_d3month=Jan&me ta_d3year=2000&meta_d4day=31&meta_d4month=Dec&meta _d4year=2011&meta_F_orsand=%22Bicyclist%22&clive=t ac-injuries-xml#.UoXQSrTE2cU.mailto

You'll notice that in the age range of 26 to 59 year olds, the trend is
that injuries requiring hospitalisation have increased significantly.

That is weird. Meanwhile, it looks like the groups most notorious for risk-taking - the 0-17 and 18-25 year olds - have either level or decreasing injuries. Makes me wonder about exposure data, naturally.

Here's another interesting article by a fellow who's travelled a bit
and, like you, Frank, bicycled in various other countries.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...-to-cycle-rage

I've long thought that some intense public education programs - via TV, billboards, radio, magazines, newspapers, internet, etc. - should be the first place to start. And if hostility in Oz is as great as that guy claims, maybe some police "sting" operations would be in order.

Of course, that requires first convincing the police...

It's becoming obvious that legislation is needed to get police and
court systems to actually take such matters seriously.

Make them liable for any incident where they can't prove that they
investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and they
might just be forced into some kind of action.

Failing that, vigilantism by cycle advocacy groups.
Drivers should be aware that they are driving around in something
which if the right steps are taken will resemble a bomb - and if
motorists knew that there was a real chance that if they carve up a
cyclist they may find their vehicle a smoking shell the next time
return to it after parking somewhere, maybe they'd take safety
seriously.

Especially if a few of the worst offenders were found still in the
vehicle.

On the other hand cyclists are blatantly aware that they are engaging
in an activity that is dangerous, witness the many comments, written
articles and You Tube displays that exist to demonstrate the dangers
of bicycle riding.

Perhaps the logical answer is to simply ban the practice of bicycle
riding as a means of saving the lives of those wantonly killed while
engaged in this hazardous exercises.

After all, fireworks were banned to protect those who would be injured
by the incorrect use of fireworks. Some anxious individuals are in
favor of banning firearms arguing that if the guns are banned then the
death rate due to their use will be reduced.

If banning guns will reduce gun crimes and banning fireworks is the
answer to Fourth of July injuries than certainly banning bicycles will
be highly effective in banning bicycle injuries deaths.
--
Cheers,

John B.