A new study published in the British Medical Journal has found that more male cyclists are hospitalized than female cyclists. The joint study from the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia found that more than three-quarters of cyclists hospitalized for bike-related injuries were men.
There were 3,690 annual hospitalizations for bicycling injuries among youths and adults. 76 percent of them were for men.
“Women were 50 percent less likely to be injured to any body region, and 60 percent less likely when we were considering head injuries,” said Jessica Dennis, a University of Toronto PhD candidate and one of the researchers who worked on the study.
The study suggested that women do not have as many hospital visits because they take fewer risks, by riding more slowly, choosing safe bike routes, and choosing routes with bike lanes.
Other bike-riders interviewed seem to agree. One rider said that men are more impetuous and take more risks. Another said, “A lot of them don’t follow the rules of the road and they do really dangerous things that cars don’t expect. I’ve never seen women cyclists do that.” One female bike rider remarked that she noticed that, of her female friends who bike, they all frequently don helmets when riding.
The researchers did not find a correlation between bike helmet legislation and injury rates, but it did find those female cyclists tend to be more cautious.
“These choices women are making, we can promote them,” said Dennis.
We encourage bike riders to exercise caution when bike riding and to wear helmets to avoid potential injury or accident. If you are in a bicycle accident, consult with a lawyer to better understand your rights by booking a free consultation. For more information, visit our accident lawyer section.
