Cycling in America is, unfortunately, not the safest among healthy activities, especially in the most dangerous places for cyclists to ride. While the popularity of cycling has continued to soar, this popularity growth has occurred in spite of the fact that, generally speaking, this nation is not a safe place to ride, with many areas lacking proper bike lanes and facing high cyclist fatalities.
There are certainly exceptions to these generalizations; some cities offer a number of bike safety precautions that make riding bicycles on city streets a stress-free activity. Nevertheless, the large majority of cities in the United States are still years behind many bike-friendly cities in Europe.
Florida, for instance, ranks first in terms of fatal bicycle accidents and cyclist deaths among all other states. While California is a close second, the Sunshine State continues its reputation as a dangerous city for cyclists.
Let’s take a look at the most recent ranking for the most dangerous cycling cities in the U.S.:
- Orlando/Kissimmee, Florida
- Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Pompano, Florida
- Riverside/San Bernardino/Ontario, California
- Las Vegas/Paradise, Nevada
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Arizona
- Houston/Sugar Land/Baytown, Texas
- Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas
As made clear from the above rankings, Florida dominates this list. While Florida tops the list in terms of highest fatalities and highest fatalities per capita, Florida bike laws continue to push for increased safety in the state, which is great news.
The infographic below provides a clear depiction of the state of cycling throughout the nation. While these numbers are important to look at, it is also of note to take them with a grain of salt. Unfortunately, these statistics have proven to be a bit shaky.
Ken McLeod is a legal specialist working with the League of American Bicyclists. Ken shed some light on the issue, stating, “Many states do not aggregate citation statistics in a manner that makes it easy to understand how laws protecting cyclists, such as three-foot laws, are being enforced”.
These issues are important to recognize, as far too many motorists are completely unaware of the law as it relates to cyclists, contributing to fatal bike accidents and traffic accidents.
Education is the biggest source of hope for cyclist safety in Florida. The more that drivers understand regarding bike laws, the use of safety gear, and the importance of dedicated bike lanes, the safer the roadways in Florida will be.
Fortunately, cycling has many health benefits that help to offset its risks, even in the most dangerous places for cyclists to ride, as shown in the following infographic.
Source: Fix.com
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