Is it true that trails and bike paths are more dangerous than roads?
There’s an oft-quoted statistic that riding on a bike paths is 2.6 times more dangerous than riding on the road. The number comes from a 1974 masters thesis study of adult cyclists that was used by author John Forester in his book “Effective Cycling” to argue against separate bike facilities. The study compared reported crashes of adult cyclists (members of the League of American Wheelmen) on all types of roads and paths and found that bike paths were 2.6 times more dangerous per million bicycle miles traveled than major or minor highways. However, things have come a long way since 1974. Sidewalks were designated for bicycle use and considered paths during that time — and we now know that riding on the sidewalk, especially against the flow of traffic, greatly increases the chances of being involved in a crash with a motor vehicle. Other trails were narrow, windy paths that were poorly planned and designed — and we now know that trails need to be a minimum of ten feet wide and should
