On the Dangers on the Roads

There are occasionally some interesting thoughts on the internet. This one (slightly modified) caught my eye.
“Food for Thought on the Economy:
Cyclists are a disaster for a country’s economy. They do not buy a car and do not take a car loan. Do not buy car insurance. Do not buy fuel. Do not send the car for servicing and repairs. Do not use paid parking.
Do not become obese. Yes, and healthy people are not needed for an economy. They do not buy drugs. They rarely go to hospitals and doctors. They add nothing to a country’s GDP.
On the contrary, every new McDonalds outlet creates at least 30 jobs: 10 cardiologists, 10 dentists and 10 weight-loss experts – quite apart from all the people working in McDonald’s outlets
Walking is even worse. Those people do not even buy a bicycle.”

Very tongue-in-cheek, I guess, but made me think. You know how cycling gives you long periods of thinking time? My mind wanders about, noting the views and the roadside flowers and reacting to traffic and road conditions generally. I am often asked whether I am not alarmed by the dangers on the roads, particularly when not protected by a tin overcoat. I find it very difficult to arrive at a rational, statistics-based conclusion. The numbers are just not available to put a percentage risk on any road activity, it seems to me.

Looking at the sheer numbers, (without allowing for “assessments on accidents per million miles travelled and numbers of different vehicles on the road” type of arguments) don’t be a pedestrian or a motor-car driver/passenger. I guess at the end of the day, it has to be a very personal assessment and a general feeling about the risks. Many of my cycling friends have given up road cycling and opt for off-road gravel or mountain biking. This has its dangers, of course, and anyway I am hopeless at off-road cycling. Don’t have the skills required!

There is a balance, I suppose. Cycling not only benefits the body but has a very positive effect on the head! There are risks in lots of other activities, including the risks of no exercise.

So, I accept the risks of close passing, or meeting a very large, road-filling vehicle going too fast on a narrow lane, and enjoy the long periods of peace and quiet in between very occasional alarums. Much more alarming to me is the state of the road surface. The noticeable deterioration of British roads is scary – not just pot-holes but very rough patches as the surface comes apart and patches break up. Add to that the general debris – mud from farm tractors, hedge thorns in season, all sorts of unmentionables.

But away with all the moaning! Enjoy the wonderful therapy of getting out on your bike on lovely country lanes in all weathers and conditions!!