Each year the Iowa DOT publishes crash information involving bicycles, and how many fatal accidents occurred. In recent years there were at least ten fatal accidents in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Last year there were only three fatalities, and so far in 2023, there have been no fatal accidents.
Today the Ride of Silence was held at locations around the state, including the East Village in Des Moines.
While there has been safety measures for bicycle riders, including a wide regional bike trail system, and bike lanes for downtown riders, there is still work to be done.
“There is less risk of a crash when someone’s riding in a bike lane because it’s a designated space for that person to ride,” said Cara Hamann, assistant professor ofepidemiology at the University of Iowa.