DES MOINES — Cyclists are frustrated that the growing support for two-wheeled transportation has rarely led to tougher penalties for drivers who hit bikes, many of whom are never ticketed or receive only minor citations, even in accidents that permanently disable or kill cyclists.
Concerns about cycling safety have risen along with ridership. Bicycle commuting nationwide climbed 62 percent since 2000 through 2013, according to a census survey. In cities such as Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, it shot up by more than 300 percent.
Studies show that having more bicyclists on the road can actually improve overall safety by making motorists more aware of riders. But the increase in cycling has coincided with a 6.6 percent rise in injuries from car-bike crashes and a 1.5 percent increase in deaths between 2001 and 2013, according to the National Traffic Safety Administration. In 2013, 743 cyclists died in crashes with cars, and an estimated 48,000 cyclists were injured.
Nearly 40 states have laws requiring passing motorists to give bicycles at least 3 feet of space, and at least six offer special protections to cyclists and pedestrians. But few have backed up those laws with stiff fines for violators.
