The Harvard Health Letter on cycling

From the August edition of the Harvard Health Letter:

Cycling is a great way to get outside and exercise. But take care when you're on the road. Adult bicycle crashes have skyrocketed since 1999, and associated medical costs are soaring with them, according to a study published online June 1, 2017, by Injury Prevention. 

Researchers looked at information from federal and regulatory databases from 1999 to 2013, and observed that nonfatal crashes during that time involving cyclists ages 45 or older went from about 42,000 to 122,000 per year. 

Costs associated with adult bicycle injuries during the study period increased almost $800 million per year, reaching $24 billion in 2013. What does that mean for your health? Study authors suggest focusing on injury prevention. 

Make sure to wear a helmet and reflective clothing; stick to bike paths instead of the street; don't use clips to keep your feet on the pedals, which can make injuries worse if you fall; don't ride alone; stay hydrated before, during, and after your ride; and use sunscreen and sunglasses.

Rob's comment:

I've posted about this study before: here, here, here.

Given all the advice in the second paragraph, this is reminiscent of the recommendations of author/bike messenger Robert Hurst and Bert Hill in a 2005 Chronicle article:

Gaze at rush-hour traffic on city streets for about 30 seconds, and any notion of transforming yourself into a brave urban bicyclist might seem like Mission: Impossible. However, experienced wheelmen say this dream is indeed achievable for most. All it requires is: everything you've got...

That is, if you accept this "mission," you must understand that it's intrinsically dangerous, that sooner or later, in the words of former Chronicle columnist C.W. Nevius who stopped riding his bike downtown: "There were just too many close calls. Sooner or later I was going DOWN."

When you do take the inevitable fall, Hill and Hurst offer some advice:

Fall with style: Sooner or later, an urban cyclist will be bumped or dumped, either by his or her own action (Hill says 45 percent of all crashes are solo falls, only 18 percent involve a vehicle), or by something done unto him or her. 

That's why you always, always, ride wearing a quality helmet and gloves. Abrasion-resistant clothing is a plus. When you start to go over, get your arms out, but don't make them stiff. Use them to absorb initial impact, yes, but even more to steer your fall into a body roll. Want to practice falls? Take a class in judo or aikido.

More on "solo falls," which are more common than being hit by a car.

Hill had the inevitable cycling accident several years ago.

My advice: Don't do it. Don't ride a bike in the city or anywhere else. It's simply too dangerous for old people and young people---City Hall and the Bicycle Coalition are irresponsibly encouraging even children to ride bikes to school in the city.