CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
Here is a new extreme sport if anyone cares to try it!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8683075.stm
"Cycling the so-called world's most dangerous road is now one of the most popular activities for backpackers in Bolivia. Last month, shortly after the 18th biker death on its perilous hairpin bends, interest was undiminished. So what's the attraction?"
However 25, 000 people do it every year apparently so not really as deadly as all that. Still don't fancy it much though.
"18th biker death on its perilous hairpin bends"
Strange thing genetics/evolution.
18 in 12 years, doesn't sound so dangerous, that is less that one a year, then look at the 25,000 a year who survive. I really don't see where the selection pressure would have an effect, that is just density dependant mortality. Won't have any impact on evolution...
18/12 = 1.5 deaths per year is it not?
As the article states the number of deaths a year on the road are 200-300, with cyclists 1.5 a year of that... Erm, doesn't that mean it's probably more dangerous not on a bike? (depends on numbers driving it I guess, but if there's a new highway then the car and lorry figures might not be much higher than the 25,000 cyclists).
However, as we know, cycling is dangerous.
Yes as soon as you get on a bicycle your skull thins the thickness of an eggshell. It is all part of the new evolution, it is a branch of Intelligent Design.
I rode it in 2002. Great fun. The higher 'Alpine' section is metalled and not particularly perilous. Lower down in the jungle bit the road is rough but what makes it particularly challenging is that its very bendy and there are sheer drops on one side for many sections. But if you've ridden a bike before and take it steady it s fine. Traffic is relative light -although a few lorries and buses. I think casulities tend to be novice cylists - its certainly not the place to learn to ride on the road. What did make it interesting was reversing the side of the road you ride on half way down (from Right as is the norm in Bolivia to the Left)! Apparently to move the traffic coming up the road onto the inside. Never really worked out why this would be safer?
By the sounds of it they're putting 25,000 people a year down who hardly know brake lever from bottle holder. So really, 1.5 deaths a year is quite a small amount. (People cry before setting off, I mean, really?)
On the other hand, many "extreme" activities have virtually no risk at all. There have been millions of bungee jumps with hardly any deaths, for example - so in comparison even a miniscule genuine risk is newsworthy?
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