The Oregon Department of Transportation released their 2005 crash statistics today and the numbers don’t look good for cyclists.
In 2005 there were 802 total crashes involving bikes, including 11 fatalities and 779 injuries. That’s 100 more crashes and 100 more injuries than in 2004.
It seems like ODOT is not doing enough to make Oregon’s roads safe for all users.
In fact, if you look at their “Bicyclist Safety Program” website you’ll come across the following goal:
“Reduce the number of bicyclists injured in crashes with motor vehicles to 575 by the year 2005.”
Looks like they’re not doing as good a job as they’d hoped.
Is this increase all ODOT’s fault? Can they be doing more to increase the safety of road users? I think cyclists all across Oregon should be concerned by this upward trend in bike-related crashes.
[I got word of these stats through Oregon State Representative Jerry Krummel’s office.]