Road Bike Accidents More Severe, Study Finds – Elderly Riders at Highest Risk
Seoul, South Korea - A new study reveals road bike accidents result in substantially more serious injuries than those involving mountain bikes, wiht older riders facing the greatest risk. Published in Scientific Reports, the research analyzed data from a single hospital emergency room and underscores a growing concern for cyclist safety as road biking’s popularity increases.
While mountain bike riders experience accidents more frequently, the study found road bike incidents are far more likely to lead to severe trauma. The number of accidents involving road bikes was 49% of the total studied,yet the severity of injuries was demonstrably higher – the average Injury Severity Score (ISS) for road bike riders was 6,compared to 4 for mountain bike riders. This difference highlights a critical disparity in the nature of injuries sustained by each group.
Researchers discovered a disproportionate number of head traumas and the sole fatality within the study population occurred in a road bike-related accident due to head injury. Collisions with motor vehicles were also significantly more common among road bike riders. Notably, the study identified age as a key factor, finding that older road bike riders experienced the most severe injuries.
“This study shows that the frequency and severity of road bike and mountain bike accidents are different,” researchers concluded. “In particular, the elderly road bike rider can be classified as a high-risk group because of its high severity. You need to worry about safety than anyone else.”
The study’s authors acknowledge limitations, including the data being sourced from a single hospital emergency room and a lack of consideration for factors like riding time and distance. Tho, the findings provide valuable insight into the distinct safety profiles of road and mountain biking, prompting a need for targeted safety measures, notably for older road cyclists.
The full study is available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-17754-z
