Charlie Schuessler
New member
RoadBikeRider.com issues weekly Newsletter and published this report which I found interesting and based on my road riding expirence not surprised...
Are you safer in a helmet? There's little question when it comes to avoiding or reducing head injury in a crash. But a British study has found that drivers pass closer when overtaking a helmet-wearing cyclist.
The researcher, Ian Walker of the University of Bath, rode a bicycle with ultrasonic distance sensors and a video camera to measure and verify distances. He was overtaken by about 2,500 vehicles. His findings:
---Drivers will pass a bare-headed cyclist with an average of 8 cm (3.1 inches) more clearance, presumably because the rider is seen as being less experienced or less predictable.
---Cars gave an average of 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) of room to any cyclist. Trucks passed 19 cm (7.4 inches) closer. Busses passed 23 cm (9 inches) closer.
Walker also wore a woman's wig to see if there was a difference in how drivers passed female cyclists. He was given an average of 14 cm (5.5 inches) more room.
Walker was hit by two vehicles during the study, which is to be published in the Journal of Accident Analysis & Prevention. A brief can be found at http://drianwalker.com/overtaking
Are you safer in a helmet? There's little question when it comes to avoiding or reducing head injury in a crash. But a British study has found that drivers pass closer when overtaking a helmet-wearing cyclist.
The researcher, Ian Walker of the University of Bath, rode a bicycle with ultrasonic distance sensors and a video camera to measure and verify distances. He was overtaken by about 2,500 vehicles. His findings:
---Drivers will pass a bare-headed cyclist with an average of 8 cm (3.1 inches) more clearance, presumably because the rider is seen as being less experienced or less predictable.
---Cars gave an average of 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) of room to any cyclist. Trucks passed 19 cm (7.4 inches) closer. Busses passed 23 cm (9 inches) closer.
Walker also wore a woman's wig to see if there was a difference in how drivers passed female cyclists. He was given an average of 14 cm (5.5 inches) more room.
Walker was hit by two vehicles during the study, which is to be published in the Journal of Accident Analysis & Prevention. A brief can be found at http://drianwalker.com/overtaking