Hankering for a quick ride around the block on your cute new beach cruiser or hip new fixie? Think again: Florida was recently named the most dangerous state in the nation for bicyclists.
Perhaps it's the ubiquity of compression shorts distracting drivers, or perhaps the heat is to blame; but, according to a report from Center for Disease Control, the state boasts the highest cyclist fatality rate in the nation.
In a period from 2008-2012, there were .57 cyclist deaths per 100,000 people – with a total population of 19.8 million, we're talking about nearly 200 dead cyclists in four years, or 50 per year. The next most dangerous state, Delaware, comes in at only .38 deaths per 100,000 people, or about two per year when accounting for the state's smaller population.
While this represents a 9.7 percent decrease in cyclist fatalities compared to a similar period in 1975-1979, it's an altogether paltry reduction: Most other states boast over 50 percent reductions in cyclist deaths.
Something to think about next time you're going for a ride with Orlando's fancy new bike share program.