Roads are also narrower in towns and in the countryside. This makes it easier for both cars and bikes to brake effectively to avoid a collision, and makes collisions less deadly. In smaller towns in the countryside and mountains, there are lots of traffic-calming devices (“road furniture” to racing cyclists) which effectively reduce the differential between cycling speed and car speed. In cities there are more bike lanes and bike paths, particularly ones that actually connect to the places you want to go. It’s often referred to as a “safety in numbers” theory.Įuropean infrastructure is also a lot different. They may record higher absolute numbers of injuries and car-bicycle collisions because of greater participation, but the lower rate of injury has been interpreted to be a result of increased awareness among drivers that cyclists are likely to be on the road. Drivers are not surprised to see bicycles, and compared to the US many more drivers in Europe have personal experience using a bicycle for transportation and/or exercise.Īround the world – including the US – areas with more cyclists on the road have lower rates of cycling-related injuries and fatalities. Depending on the area, tons of adults commute to work by bicycle. Kids ride bikes to school and adults ride bikes for short trips in town. Culture and InfrastructureĪ big difference between the US and Europe is how integrated cycling is within European culture. Some athletes mentioned feeling safer on the roads in Europe compared to the US, which got me thinking about the risks on American roads. But unlike the US, drivers are patient, generally courteous, and far less likely to yell, honk, or worse. To escape the crush of race traffic most of our rides are well away from the race course, so we are interacting with drivers on their way to work, the grocery store, etc.

This week I am in France riding some of the iconic mountain passes of the Tour de France and watching a bit of the race. Every time I come to Europe I am struck by how differently cyclists are treated here compared to the US.

How many drunk drivers killed cyclists