![\"Safety](\"https:\/\/www.grist.org\/i\/assets\/safety-jonathan-warner-flickr-500.jpg\")
<\/a>It’s not always where you think it is.<\/span>Photo: Jonathan Warner<\/a><\/span><\/span>Afraid to ride a bicycle?<\/p>\nYou’re not alone.<\/p>\n
We know that bicycling is
\ngood for public health: More bicycling and less driving leads to improved air
\nquality, noise reduction, fewer car crashes, and reduced carbon emissions. <\/p>\n
But what about personal
\nhealth — that is, YOUR personal health and safety?<\/p>\n
Many people don’t bike But you might have more Fear the Fear your By all means, fear a poor diet But bicycling?<\/p>\n True, most of us who ride But these are concerns no Cars are indeed worth The research is You know the old saw There’s a strong trend to Fortunately, just as And by getting on a bike, you can free yourself When you ride a bicycle, Of course, there are many The real thing that’s We never want to hear <\/p>\n <\/p>\n More good writing about https:\/\/www.copenhagenize.com\/2009\/09\/fear-of-cycling-01-essay-in-five-parts.html<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.kenkifer.com\/bikepages\/health\/risks.htm<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.floridabicycle.org\/freedomfromfear.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nout of fear — with the
\nmost significant terrifying factor<\/a>, of course, being cars. As many as 60
\npercent of people in U.S. cities<\/a> would like to ride a bicycle if it weren’t
\nfor traffic-related concerns.<\/p>\n
\nto fear from not<\/em> riding.<\/p>\n
\nchair<\/a> in which you read this.<\/p>\n
\ncar commute<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nand sedentary lifestyle<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\na bike in traffic every day have our bouts with fear<\/a>.
\nAnd for good reason. High-speed roads suck to ride on and suck more to cross.
\nExhaust sucks to breathe. Driveways and parking lot exits are the pits. The
\ndoor zone is a drag.<\/p>\n
\nmatter what mode of transportation you’re using. We do tend to feel safest<\/a> in a
\ncushy SUV, but we’re still subject to the right hook, the too-close pass, the
\ncut-off — and at freeway speeds, to boot.<\/p>\n
\nfearing. But not only if you are on a bicycle. Cars are terrible<\/a> for your health<\/a> even when you aren’t driving or dodging them.<\/p>\n![\"Bike](\"https:\/\/www.grist.org\/i\/assets\/bike-flickr-jjjohn-500x385.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo: Giovanni Orlando<\/a><\/span><\/span>Bicycling, on the other
\nhand, is astoundingly, incontrovertibly good for you. A 2009
\nreview of the scientific literature<\/a> found that the slight increase in risk
\nfrom bicycle crashes is more than offset by the vast improvements in overall
\nhealth and lifespan when you ride a bicycle for transportation. In fact, the
\nhealth benefits of bicycling are nine times greater than the safety gains from
\ndriving instead.<\/p>\n
\ncompelling enough to elicit amusing<\/a> talking points about the environmental detriments to prolonging our lives.<\/p>\n
\nabout how you’re less likely to be in a plane crash than in a car crash on your
\nway to the airport? Everyone’s heard it, but its impact on the fear of flying
\nis minimal. Fear isn’t rational.<\/p>\n
\nturn a blind eye to the perils of car dependence — perhaps because our cities and
\nlives are designed, and not entirely by us, to be dependent on cars. Our nation’s
\neconomy and our daily life depends on being able to set aside valid concerns.
\nAnd a culture of misplaced fears is certainly convenient to those who would
\nlike to keep it that way.<\/p>\n
\nfears can be influenced, fears can also be overcome<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nof fears that are specific to
\ndriving<\/a> — like hitting someone with your car.<\/p>\n
\nyou make the roads safer<\/a> for everyone<\/a>.
\nIn a car, you become a hazard to the public’s well being.<\/p>\n
\nways to get exercise besides bicycling. Running<\/a> is
\ngreat for you. Walking is excellent as well, but doesn’t have the same
\ndemonstrated effect. Climbing mountains, weight training, yoga: all great for
\nyour health.<\/p>\n
\nkilling us is that we continue
\nto create<\/a> places that impose barriers to actually being able to move your
\nbody. High-speed streets without sidewalks or crossings. Walkable neighborhoods
\nwhere there is literally nowhere to go. Gyms accessible primarily by car.<\/p>\n
\nthis, but we’re all going to die. Why not get out there and
\nride your bike first?<\/p>\n
\nfear and bicycling:<\/strong><\/p>\n