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Why Bicycling Matters <br />Traffic -related crashes that kill and severely injure people are a serious <br />transportation equity and public health concern. Minnesota is seeing a rising share <br />of crashes involving people biking that result in fatal and serious injuries. <br />Ramsey County's 2015 County -wide Pedestrian & Bicycle Plan estimated that <br />Ramsey County has the second highest serious injury rate of bicyclists relative to the <br />rest of the state. In Ramsey County, three -percent of all crash fatalities are bicyclists <br />which is one -and -half times the state average. Streets with higher numbers of bike <br />crashes tend to be in St. Paul; in Roseville areas with one to six bicycle crashes were <br />reported on nearly all major roads. <br />One of the top reasons people cite for not biking is concern about safety (both <br />traffic safety and personal security). People who bike (and walk) are the most <br />vulnerable transportation system users. National and state data show American <br />Indian/Alaskan Native, Black/African American and Hispanic people and low-income <br />individuals are at greater risk of being severely injured or killed due to a motor <br />vehicle related crash while biking. <br />Streets that are safer for people biking (and walking) reduce the frequency and <br />severity of crashes and minimize conflicts between all transportation users. Safety, <br />both real and perceived, is essential to increasing the number of people who bike. <br />Safer Streets for All <br />Lyndale Ave in Richfield before (above) and after (below) <br />the installation of modern roundabouts at multiple <br />intersections, which allowed lane space to be reallocated for <br />protected bike lanes (cycle tracks). <br />Page 152 of <br />