I’ve always biked against traffic so that I can see the cars that are coming my way. I feel safer this way. When the cars are behind me, I feel I am at a higher risk of getting hit.
This post, https://www.reddit.com/r/IdiotsInCars/comments/e8i24j/just_gotta_get_to_work_on_time/ , reminded me to finally get to the bottom of this.
In: Culture
I’ll contribute “Velocity” for increased survival chances in a collision.
Drastically simplified down:
Head on collision is (CarSpeed*CarMass) + (BicycleSpeed*BicycleMass)
Rear ended, you subtract bicycle speed at least.
Now this assumes crash is inevitable, but see the way the cyclist is propelled in your clip? Forward on existing path is better than UP or Into-the-windshield.
A racing bike can hit 25mph. Let’s assume a more modest 15. Car doing 40+15=55(head on collision)
Same scenario, bike obeying traffic laws=25
I’d rather not be hit either, but one of those values looks significantly more like a death sentence.
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