CALIFORNIA BICYCLE NEWS AND CYCLING SAFETY TIPS BLOG

Bicycle accidents carry a higher risk of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) for cyclists who do not wear helmets. Living with the complications from sustaining a TBI can be difficult as it may result in permanent cognitive and behavioral changes. Accident survivors who have shared their stories of living with a TBI can teach us why it is important to wear a helmet while cycling. After slamming head first into the pavement during an accident, a 27-year-old Bay Area woman had her life dramatically changed. Her career in IT was cut short and she had to move back home with her parents to receive around-the-clock care. In addition to having her career ambitions upended, the woman had to relearn how to walk, talk and feed herself. Complications from her accident included physical symptoms such as double vision, permanent hearing loss and nerve damage that caused facial paralysis. The cognitive symptoms…
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In our previous blog posts, we have discussed numerous ways that cyclists can avoid accidents and the injuries associated with them, but now we want to venture out into the world of tomorrow and talk about how technology will contribute to cycling safety in the near future. Car companies are launching new versions of smart cars every year, some of which can drive themselves and avoid obstacles that include trains, pedestrians and cyclists. For those of us who cannot afford robotic vehicles yet, auto manufacturers are beginning to find cost efficient ways to include collision-warning systems capable of warning drivers that a cyclist is in close vicinity. For example, one prominent luxury auto manufacturer has installed a warning system called Bike Sense, which will use lights, sounds and vibrations on the car seat to warn drivers of nearby obstacles. When a driver attempts to open a door in front of…
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