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Comment by econochoice | Hacker News Reader

> This equals the kinetic energy of myself walking at a brisk pace, or basically something that won't kill purely from blunt force impact.

This is an analogy that cannot completely map to cycling.

A fall at any speed from a bike is literally a potentially crippling or deadly scenario.

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Potentially deadly? Maybe, sure, but at low speeds, up to 10 mph say, it is incredibly unlikely that falling off a bicycle (even with no helmet) will do more than cause bruises and damaged ego.

Falling while stationary is the second most common type of accidental death, can't imagine a bicycle makes it any safer lmao

Is this including the elderly who often will break a hip that way and then die of the complications? Because if so, that would not be comparable to a healthy young (< 60 yo) person falling.

Are there numbers on the average height of those fatal falls? If they're from balconies, roofs, etc., I'd say being on a bike (a few feet from the ground) would make it much safer.

When you're balancing on two thin tires, you are lucky if you fall and don't slam your head on the pavement.

Curious if you have ever fallen off a bike? I have fallen over several times on a bike while stationary (when learning to ride with clipless pedals), I have crashed bikes at much higher speeds as well, and I have watched my kids fall off of bikes lots of times while learning. In all of that, I have never seen a (or had my own) head hit the ground. Typically you hit the ground with your arms (slow speed or stationary fall) or your hips, back, or shoulders (if at higher speed).

> A fall at any speed from a bike is literally a potentially crippling or deadly scenario.

For elderly people, I would guess that's accurate.

Yet falling is the second most common cause of accidental deaths in the world.

Don't underestimate how dangerous even a small fall can be, you can end up fine but you could also end up smashing your face into the curb.

A friend of mine, in his 50's very fit, cycling to work and back every day, broke both his arms while doing literally a 10-meter test drive in front of a bike store.

The bike's brakes were setup reversed compared to what he used to, so he ended up breaking with the front brake, flipping the bike over and breaking both his arms while landing. His fault? Sure, but still a rather scary story how quickly even mundane things can go really wrong.

Did he end up purchasing the bike?

Yeah, I mean those brakes were real GOOD!

I don't think he did, not much use for a bike when both your arms are in a plaster cast from hands to shoulders. Poor guy couldn't even go to the toilet without help.

When a rider is onboard there’s no autonomy, the bike is only self-delivering.

I get what you're saying but that feels like a reach

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