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Public bike sharing has only been introduced in America in the last decade, but it is becoming increasingly popular in major US cities. Somewhat surprisingly, it appears to be much safer than riding a personal bike. According to a study from the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) which focused on 3 major bike share systems (Bay Area, DC and Minneapolis), fewer accidents have occurred on bike share bikes compared to the national benchmark for cycling generally, and none of them were fatal. So what are bike share programs and riders doing differently?

To answer that question, MTI researchers consulted industry experts and held focus groups, eventually coming up with two main explanations.

Reliable Equipment

Firstly, the bike share bicycles were built for durability, which has overall improved their safety record. The bikes are stocky, heavy, and have wide tires. They also come equipped with lights and in most cases are brightly coloured. All of these elements combine to make the bikes more visible to motorists, and more difficult to ride quickly or recklessly.

Bike Share Cyclists are More Cautious

A large portion of bike share users are not regular bike commuters. While you might think they would be more dangerous because of their lack of urban cycling experience, it actually seems to have the opposite effect. Bike share users tend be much more cautious on the road and spend more time in safe cycling routes than people riding personal bikes.

Slower Traffic 

The MIT researchers also noted that since bike share is mostly used in urban areas where traffic is slower and bike infrastructure is available, the risk of collisions is lessened.

Better Infrastructure

When it comes to helmets, the research emphasized the inefficacy of mandatory helmet laws. There is no reliable data to support the idea that helmets will reduce the incidence of head injuries, but studies have shown that mandatory helmet laws tend to deter spur-of-the-moment bike trips. Besides, infrastructure improvements have been proven to have a better impact on safety than helmet laws.

More Cyclists Means Safer Cyclists

Finally, even if the MTI study could not prove the so called “safety in numbers” thesis, they are not ruling it out. This theory has been backed up by other studies which posit that more cyclists on the roads mean more drivers become aware of them, and as a result fewer crashes occur.

In the end, this report can be taken as a handy safety manual for riders: go slowly, have a light, be cautious and aware of your surroundings, wear a helmet, and, most importantly, advocate for more bicycle infrastructure and slower vehicle traffic.