Veteran riders know that biking is actually quite safe. Statistics reinforce their opinion. Fatalities per every 10,000 bike commuters dropped 57 percent between 1980 and 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite this, even the most experienced cyclists in the Pittsburgh area are wary of commuting on their bicycles because of strong safety concerns.

This wariness may be warranted as the awareness and concentration of auto operators has apparently not kept pace in the Pittsburgh area. Personal injury lawsuits on behalf of injured cyclists continue unabated. These legitimate safety concerns cause many riders to refrain from the otherwise healthy habit of using their bikes to commute to and from work.

Less than 2 percent of the U.S. population use bikes to commute to their workplaces. Contrast this data with the Netherlands, where almost 30 percent of the workforce commutes via bicycle.

Two major issues contribute to safety concerns and low numbers of bike commuters. First, the lack of bicycle lanes force riders to "mingle" with auto traffic, an inherent dangerous activity for even the most skilled cyclists. Second, the catch-22 issue of visibility increases rider danger. Low rider volume reduces cyclist visibility. While there is safety in numbers, the volume of personal injuries, usually from "interaction" with autos, is keeping these numbers low.

Cities like Pittsburgh need more bike lanes. Until more lanes are created and safety, not injury, increases, commuting cyclists will remain a distinct minority. Whether you are a cyclist, driver or both, how do you feel about this issue?

Source: Transportation Nation, "Safety Keeps Pittsburgh Cyclists from Becoming Bike Commuters," Larkin Page-Jacobs, Oct. 31, 2011