CHAPTER III
BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
part 1
[Editor's note: this chapter is very long;
the online version has been split into three sections
for easier navigation]
The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between bicycle accidents and
the Eugene Bikeway System. The analysis of bicycle accident records is an important part
of this evaluation project. The City of Eugene Police Department Accident Records,
involving bicycles for a five-year period from 1974 and through 1978 have been analyzed
for this purpose.
Bicycle accidents reported to the Police Department are described on standard Traffic
Accident Report forms. These forms are completed by officers investigating the accident.
The bicycle accident analysis has been summarized under the following sections:
- Annual Summary of Bicycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accident Types
- Corridor Bicycle Accidents
- Intersection Bicycle Accidents
- Bicycle Accident Causes
ANNUAL SUMMARY OF BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
During the five-year period of 1974 through 1978, 391 bicycle accidents were reported.
Table III-1 lists the total accidents and the injury classifications of the accidents
reported. There were no fatalities related to bicycle accidents; however, 71% of the
bicycle accidents resulted in major or severe injuries to the bicycle driver. Accidents
are summarized as follows:
| 18% |
Severe incapacitating injury |
| 53% |
Major non-incapacitating injury |
| 21% |
Minor injury |
| 8% |
Non apparent injuries |
TABLE III-1
NUMBER BICYCLE ACCIDENTS BY SEVERITY OF INJURIES
EUGENE, OREGON
1974-1978
| YEAR |
TOTAL ACCI-
DENTS |
SEVERE (INCAPCI-
TATING) INJURY ACCI-
DENTS |
MAJOR (NON- INCAPACI-
TATING) INJURY ACCI-
DENTS |
MINOR INJURY ACCI-
DENTS |
NO APPAR-
ENT INJURY ACCI-
DENTS |
| 1978 |
99 |
16 |
|
49 |
|
23 |
|
11 |
|
| 1977 |
78 |
9 |
|
39 |
|
24 |
|
6 |
|
| 1976 |
83 |
20 |
|
40 |
|
17 |
|
6 |
|
| 1975 |
78 |
15 |
|
44 |
|
12 |
|
7 |
|
| 1974 |
53 |
9 |
|
35 |
|
7 |
|
2 |
|
| Total |
391 |
69 |
(18%) |
207 |
(53%) |
83 |
(21%) |
32 |
(8%) |
|
Next: Chapter III, part 2 |
