Drawing the curtain back on injured commercial bicyclists

J.H. Heyer, M. Sethi, S.P. Wall, P. Ayoung-Chee, D. Slaughter, S. Jacko, C.J. DiMaggio and S.G. Frangos

American Journal of Public Health, 2015, vol. 105, issue 10, 2131-2136

Abstract: Objectives. We determined the demographic characteristics, behaviors, injuries, and outcomes of commercial bicyclists who were injured while navigating New York City's (NYC's) central business district. Methods. Our study involved a secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from a level 1 regional trauma center in 2008 to 2014 of bicyclists struck by motor vehicles. We performed univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results. Of 819 injured bicyclists, 284 (34.7%) were working. Commercial bicyclists included 24.4% to 45.1% of injured bicyclists annually. Injured commercial bicyclists were more likely Latino (56.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 50.7, 62.8 vs 22.7%; 95% CI = 19.2, 26.5). Commercial bicyclists were less likely to be distracted by electronic devices (5.0%; 95% CI = 2.7, 8.2 vs 12.7%; 95% CI = 9.9, 15.9) or to have consumed alcohol (0.7%; 95% CI = 0.9, 2.5 vs 9.5%; 95% CI = 7.2, 12.3). Commercial and noncommercial bicyclists did not differ in helmet use (38.4%; 95% CI = 32.7, 44.4 vs 30.8%; 95% CI = 26.9, 34.9). Injury severity scores were less severe in commercial bicyclists (odds ratio = 0.412; 95% CI = 0.235, 0.723). Conclusions. Commercial bicyclists represent a unique cohort of vulnerable roadway users. In NYC, minorities, especially Latinos, should be targeted for safety education programs.

Keywords: adolescent; adult; aged; cycling; emergency health service; epidemiology; female; helmet; human; injuries; injury scale; male; middle aged; motor vehicle; occupational accident; prospective study; protective clothing; risk factor; statistics and numerical data; traffic accident; United States; utilization, Accidents, Occupational; Accidents, Traffic; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bicycling; Female; Head Protective Devices; Humans; Injury Severity Score; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Vehicles; New York City; Prospective Studies; Protective Clothing; Risk Factors; Trauma Centers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2015.302738_0

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302738

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