Now that summer is quickly approaching, more people are riding their bicycles – to commute to work, for exercise, or for some healthy recreational fun.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 2000 and 2012, the number of Americans who used their bicycles to travel to work went from 488,000 to around 786,000 – a significant increase.

While we can all agree that bicycling is good for the environment and our health, we cannot ignore the fact that it’s also more dangerous than riding in a vehicle, namely because of the lack of protection bicycling affords.

In July 2014, the NHTSA reported that:

• Of the bicyclists injured or killed, 88% of them were male,
• The majority of bicycle fatalities occurred in urban areas (69%),
• 24% of bicycle fatalities involved bicyclists between the ages of 45 and 54, and
• 48% of bicycle fatalities occurred in the late afternoon and evening, between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight.

In 2012, the total number of passenger and vehicle deaths decreased overall, but that was not the case for bicyclist fatalities, which increased from 682 to 726. In 2012, the bicycle injuries increased from 48,000 nationwide to 49,000, the NHTSA reports.

The NHTSA’s discovered that more bicyclist fatalities occur during the summer between July and September, which is understandable considering the pleasant weather.

According to a 2012 national survey conducted by the NHTSA, the average bicycle ride was 30 minutes (42%), with 31 to 60-minute rides coming in second at 36%. The most common reasons for riding cited were recreation and exercise respectively.

Top Mistakes Made By Motorists

• The driver fails to yield to the bicyclist and turns in front of them.
• The driver fails to look for bicyclists (e.g. at a stop sign).
• At a red light, the driver turns right.
• The driver goes too fast for the traffic conditions.
• The driver passes the bicyclist too closely.

If you, or someone you love was injured in a bicycle accident, we urge you to contact our New Jersey bicycle accident attorney, Brandon J. Broderick.

As an advocate selected for inclusion in New Jersey’s Super Lawyers and as a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, he is qualified to help you. Call now for a free case evaluation!