Cycling has had a big comeback over the past few years. This stemmed from people focusing more on health and wellness, especially as they grew older. Unfortunately, the growing numbers of riders on the road also coincide with a spike in the death rates of cyclists. Older people also make up a significant bulk of the numbers.
Business Insider explains that the number of riders over the age of 45 has been on the rise. To add to this, crashes also increased for this age group. Meanwhile, it decreased for riders 45 years old and younger.
Higher medical costs
Young people are generally healthier and more resilient. In the event of crashes, this increases the chances of survival. Older people may require longer and more intensive medical care, which may drive up medical costs for this demographic. Between 1997 and 2013, the number of non-fatal bike-related injuries increased by 6,500, year after year. The medical costs also rose by 140% during that period.
Safety measures
The best safety measures may come from cities putting proper infrastructure in place for bikers. The better the access to public transportation and trails without motorized vehicles, the lower fatality rates may fall to. In the meantime, drivers need to remain vigilant and riders need to plan for the fact that many drivers operate vehicles while distracted. Wearing a helmet also makes a big difference in the survival rate. Forbes estimates that 54% of cyclists killed in crashes did not wear helmets at the time.
The statistics also show men dying at a disproportionately higher rate than women. However, there are two simple reasons for this. The first is that men make up 75% of riders. The second is that men tend to take more risks than women do.