| This research examined events occurring during bicycle riding in relationship to the physical environment, bicycle characteristics, characteristics of the bicyclist, bicycle riding behaviors, and the social context within which bicycle riding occurred. A descriptive design with structured observational methods was used. The Haddon Matrix provided the framework for the observations. In five Midwestern counties, 405 bicyclists were observed. Children less than 10 years of age (43%) and adolescents (31%) comprised the majority of bicyclists. Only 6.9% of children and 5.6% of adolescents wore helmets compared with 43.3% of adults (X2 79.44, ***p ≤ .001). Children and adolescents were more likely to exhibit risky riding behaviors such as stunt riding (X2 49.3, ***p ≤ .001), riding inappropriately in traffic (X2 45.99, ***p ≤ .001), and failing to follow stop signs (X2 29.33, ***p ≤ .001). Children and adolescents were more likely to ride on neighborhood streets rather than bike trails as compared to adults ( X2 149.08, ***p ≤ .001). The larger the group size, the more likely the bicyclists were to ride inappropriately in traffic ( X2 10.92, ***p = .004). Bicyclists engaging in a combination of communication techniques were less likely to follow road signs appropriately (X2 30.06, ***p ≤ .001), wear a bicycle helmet (X2 32.78, ***p ≤ .001), or ride appropriately (X2 44.13, ***p ≤ .001) than those bicyclists who did not interact while riding. Predictors of inappropriate riding activity for children and adolescents riding in groups were age child (OR 3.0), motor vehicle traffic pattern greater than 20 cars per minute (OR 38.8), motor vehicle traffic pattern of 1–10 cars per minute (OR 2.5), and engaging in a combination of social interactions (OR 5.2). Predictors of social interaction were age child (OR 6.2), age adolescent (OR 26.2), leaving school (OR 33.9), riding in groups of 3 (OR 1.8), riding in areas without motor vehicles (OR 18.7) or in areas with 1–10 motor vehicles per minute (OR 27.4). Recommendations for research, primary prevention programs, and health policy were identified. |
