Public Bicycle Share Programs and Head Injuries

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2014 Jun 13

PMID 24922150

Citations 11

Authors

Janessa M Graves

Barry Pless

Lynne Moore

Avery B Nathens

Garth Hunte

Frederick P Rivara

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of North American public bicycle share programs (PBSPs), which typically do not offer helmets with rentals, on the occurrence of bicycle-related head injuries.

Methods: We analyzed trauma center data for bicycle-related injuries from 5 cities with PBSPs and 5 comparison cities. We used logistic regression models to compare the odds that admission for a bicycle-related injury would involve a head injury 24 months before PBSP implementation and 12 months afterward.

Results: In PBSP cities, the proportion of head injuries among bicycle-related injuries increased from 42.3% before PBSP implementation to 50.1% after (P < .01). This proportion in comparison cities remained similar before (38.2%) and after (35.9%) implementation (P = .23). Odds ratios for head injury were 1.30 (95% confidence interval = 1.13, 1.67) in PBSP cities and 0.94 (95% confidence interval = 0.79, 1.11) in control cities (adjusted for age and city) when we compared the period after implementation to the period before.

Conclusions: Results suggest that steps should be taken to make helmets available with PBSPs. Helmet availability should be incorporated into PBSP planning and funding, not considered an afterthought following implementation.

Citing Articles

Characteristics and Outcomes of Shared Bicycle-Related Injuries from a Large Emergency Medical Centre in China, 2017-2021.

Chen M, Li W, Ye J, Liu G, Huang C Emerg Med Int. 2022; 2022:4647102.

PMID: 35784642 PMC: 9242754. DOI: 10.1155/2022/4647102.

Roadmap for free-floating bikeshare research and practice in North America.

Hirsch J, Stratton-Rayner J, Winters M, Stehlin J, Hosford K, Mooney S Transp Rev. 2020; 39(6):706-732.

PMID: 32981990 PMC: 7518518. DOI: 10.1080/01441647.2019.1649318.

The Injuries and Helmet Use in Bike Share Programs: A Systematic Review.

Chen S, Cui H, Tang M, Wang Y, Zhang M, Bai Y J Community Health. 2020; 46(1):203-210.

PMID: 32415520 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-020-00836-6.

Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving a Bicycle Before and After Introduction of a Bike Share Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010-2018.

Hamra G, Schinasi L, Quistberg D Am J Public Health. 2020; 110(6):863-867.

PMID: 32298172 PMC: 7204463. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2020.305613.

Free-Floating Bikeshare and Helmet Use in Seattle, WA.

Mooney S, Lee B, OConnor A J Community Health. 2018; 44(3):577-579.

PMID: 30539328 PMC: 6504575. DOI: 10.1007/s10900-018-00599-1.

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