Riding the risk: A cross-sectional analysis of cycling injuries in the presence of vehicular traffic

Over the past decade, there has been a surge in the number of individuals participating in cycling. This trend is driven by factors such as increasing awareness of health benefits, environmental concerns, and the promotion of cycling as a sustainable mode of transportation. As cycling continues to grow in popularity, so does the number of cycling-related injuries, suggesting that urban infrastructure may be insufficient to accommodate the rising number of cyclists sharing the road with motor vehicles. This prompts the question: is there a correlation between the prevalence, pattern, and risk factors associated with cycling injuries in the proximity of motor vehicles?. This is a retrospective cohort study using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System- All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) to examine cycling injuries between 2006 to 2021. This study compares overall injuries and typical fracture locations in traffic and non-traffic settings. A collective total of 7, 032, 974 estimated patients were analyzed after incurring cycling-related injuries. Descriptive analytics and bivariate analyses were used to characterize the data. Results revealed more cycling injuries in the presence of vehicular traffic than non-traffic (weighted 44.1% > 25.1%) and the most common injuries were to the head and face (19.9% and 14.0%, P < .001), and included injuries such as facial lacerations wrist fractures and knee contusions. Males were injured more than females (73.5% and 26.5% P < .0002). Most injuries were treated in the emergency department (90.5%, P-value <.001). Overall, data analysis showed that there was a statistically significant increase in the number of injuries in traffic-related conditions as opposed to those in non-traffic settings, yet no significant difference in the type of injuries in both groups. This study offers insights that may potentially shape preventative measures including equipping hospital medical clincians on the treatment of most common diagnoses, directing first responder training during mass participation events, and informing public policy makers on safety initiatives in regions with a high prevalence of cycling and presence of traffic.