Table 3

Specific mechanism of injury distribution*

MechanismGroup; no. (%)p value
Overall, n = 258Street cyclists, n = 209Mountain bikers, n = 49
Fell off bicycle120 (46.5)93 (44.5)27 (55.1)0.20
Attempted to avoid a person, animal or object5 (1.9)5 (2.4)0 (0)
Rode down a hill at high speed19 (7.4)19 (9.1)0 (0)
Hit a speed bump2 (0.7)2 (0.9)0 (0)
Lost balance, speed-related or other cause94 (36.4)67 (32.0)27 (55.1)
Fell while attempting a jump or trick29 (11.2)19 (9.1)10 (20.4)0.041
Veered and fell off cliff, roadside or embankment14 (5.4)6 (2.9)8 (16.3)0.001
Collided with a person, animal or object other than a motor vehicle28 (10.9)25 (12.0)3 (6.1)0.31
Collided with a parked automobile7 (2.7)7 (3.3)0 (0)
Hit by a motor vehicle while bicycling58 (22.5)58 (27.8)0 (0)
Hit by a commuter train while crossing tracks1 (0.39)1 (0.48)0 (0)
  • * p values not afforded when event rates too small to compare or when comparisons would not be meaningful (e.g., collision with parked car while mountain biking).