On Sep 19, Eric W. wrote:
A recent study has shown that cars come closer to bicycle riders in
bicycle clothes and helmets than those without helmets. The
researcher found that motorists feel that such equipped riders are
like the automatic dogs at a dog track--mechanically riding the
edge and that they don't have to give space.
Eric is referring to this British study:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/5334208.stm>
where the researcher "used a bike fitted with a computer and an
ultrasonic distance sensor to find drivers were twice as likely to
get close to the bicycle, at an average of 8.5cm, when he wore a
helmet." The sample size was around 2500. He also did the same
experiment wearing a wig, where "drivers gave him an average of 14cm
more space when passing."
There was a lively discussion of this study on the Icebike list last
week. A couple of interesting questions came up:
-The study was conducted on one cyclist--the author. What impact
would that have on the results?
-How would the data be different for other cyclists with different
riding styles?
-What about other variables like dress, weather, speed, lane width,
time of day, traffic density, etc.?
It's an interesting study, but I disagree with its conclusions. For
me, 2500 incidents and an 8.5 cm differential are not statistically
significant proof that "wearing a helmet might make a collision more
likely in the first place." I'll take the benefits of wearing a
helmet (if for no other reason that to account for operator error on
my own part) over the tenuous conclusions of this study any day.
Or maybe I'll start shopping for a wig.
Michael Lemberger
Madison
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