ATSSA Signal September October 2020

The Signal | September/October 2020 11 ATSSA News The first half of 2020 saw a boom in bicycle purchases and riders, related in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic as people going through lockdowns sought ways to get out of the house. While thepandemicboommayhavebeen a blip, the number of bicycle riders has steadily increased over the past decade. Along with the increase in bicyclists has come an increase in fatalities. Between 2007 and 2018, bicyclist deaths increased 22%, from701 to 857, accord - ing to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report issued in Decem - ber 2019. “Bicyclist Safety on U.S. Road - ways: CrashRisks andCountermeasures” was the first NTSB report on the topic in nearly five decades and noted that automobile fatalities decreased 11% during the same period in which bicy - clist deaths saw a large increase. “This country needs a multi-faceted approach to deal with a problem that is only getting worse: more Americans   are dying in collisions involving bikes and motor vehicles,” NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said in a release about the report. The report highlighted three key aspects for improving bicycle safety: upgrading infrastructure; enhancing “conspicuity” or visibility, of bicyclists and signage; and mitigating head injuries, with a focus on helmet use. The NTSB report included a host of recommendations to improvebike safety, many of whichmirror approaches used for automobiles. The report highlights such approaches as artificial intelligence technology and separating bicyclists from automobiles in roadways and at intersections. Previous ATSSA studies from 2010 and 2019 identified similar trends in bicy - cle use and safety as well as identifying approaches to make cycling safer. In addition, some NTSB recommendations are similar to those in the ATSSA studies. Tennessee-based Jeffrey Trombly and Associates produced the 2019 ATSSA case study on pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Owner Jeffrey Trombly talked recently about the NTSB findings and the state of bicycle safety going forward. Heconsiders theNTSBreport, in largepart, more of the same traditional approach, such as focusing on helmets, when it should lean more toward innovation. To its credit, the NTSB noted in its report weaknesses in the federal approach to bike safety, primarily when it comes to connected and automated vehicle technology. Trombly noted some positives, includ - ing the NTSB’s urging of an increased pursuit of technology, which he called “a good recommendation.” He added that there also appears to be growing advo - cacy for integrating bicycle features in the infrastructure “that wemay not have seen in the past.” Bicycle use surges in 2020 NTSB and ATSSA recognize technology needed to reduce fatalities By Scott Shenk for The Signal