Why bicycling infrastructure is so important. Photo: Ken Ohrn. primary vs. secondary prevention

Transcription

1 Why bicycling infrastructure is so important Photo: Ken Ohrn primary vs. secondary prevention

2 Primary prevention: Prevents disease Prevents exposure to risk Photo: Paul Krueger

3 Secondary prevention: Reduces disease symptoms, speeds recovery Reduces exposures at the person

4 Transportation: multifaceted approach to MV injuries route infrastructure primary - prevent crashes divided highways wide shoulders curve radius increases, grade decreases reflectors street lighting left turn bays, traffic signal redesigns slow speed zones, traffic calming motor vehicle driver driver licensing & education impaired driving laws cell phone bans speeding enforcement ABS brakes running lights head rests shatter-proof windshields chassis design seatbelts, airbags secondary mitigate injury

5 Transport Canada, Road Safety in Canada, 2011 The major safety measure for bicyclists is to wear a helmet that meets safety standards. Secondary prevention: helmets reduce injuries after a crash

6 Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, 2013 Eurobike Conference We have to make sure the right infrastructure exists so that those who want to switch to the bicycle as a mode of transport can do it. Primary prevention: Separated infrastructure prevents crashes from occurring Photo: Paul Krueger

7 British Columbia Helmet law, 75% wear helmet Most routes: little or no cycling infrastructure Photos: Jack Becker, Third Wave Cycling Flickr, W.D. Vanlue Photo Flickr: Café Mama

8 Holland, Denmark Most routes: separated cycling infrastructure Helmet use rare: 2-10% Photo: Mark Treasure Photo Flickr: Café Mama

9 Cycling injury rates? Deaths / 100 million km travelled What if? death rate 43-58% lower

10 But... Denmark & Holland are so far ahead, Won t it take years for us to build the same infrastructure & achieve these injury reductions?

11 Cycling injuries: primary vs. secondary prevention... news from Australia Injury hospitalizations New South Wales Head injuries Arm injuries Data source: Olivier J, Walter SR, Grzebieta RH, Accid Anal Prev, 2013;50: Calculations: Teschke K, Cycling in Cities, University of British Columbia

12 1800 Helmet law, 1991 Helmet use from ~17% to 80% Cycling 16% in initial year HEAD injury hospitalizations 25-29% 1500 Injury hospitalizations New South Wales Head injuries Arm injuries 600 Arm injuries also go down, indicating cycling in initial years Data source: Olivier J, Walter SR, Grzebieta RH, Accid Anal Prev, 2013;50: Calculations: Teschke K, Cycling in Cities, University of British Columbia

13 Injury hospitalizations New South Wales Head injuries Arm injuries Data source: Olivier J, Walter SR, Grzebieta RH, Accid Anal Prev, 2013;50: Calculations: Teschke K, Cycling in Cities, University of British Columbia

14 2005 Road & Traffic Authority guidelines spur infrastructure improvements...

15 1800 Separated cycling infrastructure cycling 29% HEAD injury hospitalizations 45% ARM injury hospitalizations 23% ALL hospitalizations (est.) 30% Expected based on cycling Injury hospitalizations New South Wales Expected based on cycling Head injuries Arm injuries Data source: Olivier J, Walter SR, Grzebieta RH, Accid Anal Prev, 2013;50: Calculations: Teschke K, Cycling in Cities, University of British Columbia

16 Back to British Columbia ~ 1000 police reported cycling injuries/year ~ 130 head injuries (~ 60 saved by helmets) Photos: Jack Becker, Third Wave Cycling Flickr, W.D. Vanlue Photo Flickr: Café Mama

17 Easy to imagine? All Injuries, N = Head Injuries, N = British Columbia BC, if like Denmark BC, if like Holland BC, if like NSW

18 Small changes in NSW... Why so effective?

19 Safety in numbers 16 Fatalities per million work trips by bike In 50 major North American cities % 2% 4% 6% % of work trips by bike Sources: Urban Systems; US Census 2010; Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011

20 Canadian cities: huge opportunity for safety in numbers ONTARIO Toronto Ottawa Kingston % of work trips by bike, 2011 ALBERTA Calgary Edmonton Canmore BRITISH COLUMBIA Burnaby Port Moody Powell River Langford North Vancouver Colwood Central Saanich North Saanich View Royal Vancouver Victoria Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011

21 Secondary prevention Helmets Don t prevent crashes Mitigate head injuries after a crash 25-35% of HEAD injuries = 4-8% of ALL injuries Don t make people feel safe Don t encourage cycling, may deter it

22 Primary prevention Cycle tracks, bikeways, bike paths Prevent crashes Prevent injuries of all types 30-60% of ALL injuries including 30-60% of HEAD injuries Make people feel safe & comfortable Motivate cycling Photo: Ken Ohrn

23 Why motivating cycling is important... 32

24 Benefits vs. risks of cycling 9-96 lives saved 1 life lost In spite of the hostile environment in which most cyclists currently ride, the benefits in terms of health promotion & longevity far outweigh the loss of life years in injury on the roads.!!british Medical Association. Cycling: Towards Health and Safety. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992

25 Primary prevention Cycle tracks, bikeways, bike paths Prevents injuries Motivates cycling Prevents chronic diseases Photo: Ken Ohrn

26 That s why bicycling infrastructure is so important

27 cyclingincities.spph.ubc.ca