Traveling always comes with certain risks, and bicycle travel is no exception. Whether it's just a simple ride around your neighborhood or a journey to a foreign country on the other side of the world, there are potential dangers that come with you.
These risks include:
You might get involved in traffic accidents
Encountering dangerous people (robbers, perverts, etc.)
Wildlife
Annoying insects
However, if you are well-prepared and plan carefully, these potential dangers are usually quite easy to avoid.
In fact, when you can only rely on two wheels to complete a long-distance journey, these external environmental challenges become insignificant—what truly tests you the most is your mental resilience.
Most people tend to fear things like car accidents, wild animals, or murder, but during a cycling trip, the real danger that always lurks nearby is mental.
These mental obstacles include:
The determination to see it through to the end
Fear of the unknown
Fear of loneliness
Fear of strangers
Not knowing how to allocate time
Not knowing how to manage money
So the question shouldn’t be “Is cycling dangerous?” but rather, “Is cycling more dangerous than simply riding around your own city a couple of times?”
In most cases, the answer to that question is “No.”
Cycling (whether in your own city or in a city on the other side of the world) is a relatively safe way to travel. Just like many other things in daily life,
your safety while cycling depends on several factors:
your safety while cycling depends on several factors:
The destination you choose
The time of year you choose to travel
Your ability to communicate with others
A cyclist’s skill level
Navigation ability
Reasonable allocation of time and money
The willpower to solve problems and overcome challenges
Of course, there's also common sense. Aside from the inherent aches of long-distance cycling, your safety as a bike tourist largely depends on you. The potential dangers out there—such as traffic, dangerous people, wildlife, or harsh weather—can all be managed, and you can learn from overcoming them. That way, these issues won't stand in your way on future trips.