You may have wanted to rent one of those Denver B-Cycle bikes you’ve seen around town but have hesitated because you’ve wondered about the safety. After all, how safe can it be to tool around on a bicycle in urban traffic, typically without a helmet?
Very safe, apparently. that “against all odds — including novice riders, refusal to wear bike helmets and the daily crush of weaving, horn-blaring traffic,” not a single person has been killed in any public bike-share program since they were launched several years ago.
That includes Denver, where the continues to grow in popularity, with 84 stations and more than 700 bikes.
What accounts for this heartening record? Maybe the fact that the bikes are mostly heavy, slow and have thick tires — and riders are generally cautious. More study is needed, however, on whether head injuries have risen absent helmets.
Whatever the reasons, the record speaks for itself. So relax and try one of the bikes. You won’t be taking a ride on the wild side.
