Cycling in Minneapolis: How to Improve Interactions between Cyclists and MotoristsMark B. HussianEdina High SchoolCycling in Minneapolis: How to Improve Interactions between Cyclists and MotoristsIntroductionAcross the world, cycling is a mode of Very popular transportation due to its ease and cost, yet in the United States we don't seem to accommodate all bikers. European countries like Denmark and the Netherlands have the highest number of cyclists in their cities. The BBC says that there are more bikes than people in the Netherlands and that 70% of trips made in the Netherlands are by bike. To encourage cycling, they made the laws very favorable to cyclists, the BBC states that “To make cycling safer and more attractive, the Dutch built an extensive network of cycle paths. These are clearly marked, have smooth surfaces, separate signs and lights for people on two wheels and are wide enough to allow side-by-side travel and overtaking. In many cities, paths are completely separated from motorized traffic. Sometimes, where space is limited and both have to share, you can see signs showing an image of a cyclist with a car behind, accompanied by the words "Bike Street: cars are guests". Also at roundabouts, priority is given to pedalers.” Here in America, many cyclists are hit in roundabouts every year. I myself have been hit several times while going around. “You can cycle around a roundabout while cars (almost always) wait patiently for you to pass. The idea that 'cycling is the way to go' is so foreign to cycling tourists that many often have difficulty navigating it.” (BBC 2013) In the United States, many motorists do not view bicycles as equals on the road. I myself have seen cars deliberately push bikers out of the middle of the papers on college campuses. Students use bicycles for 52% of all trips (Wegman & Aarts, 2006). Cycling carries relatively high safety and health risks (DVS, 2008; SWOV, 2006). Although the number of recorded cyclist fatalities was halved during the period 1987-2005 (i.e. from 311 to 151 per year) and the annual number of hospitalized patients also decreased (i.e. i.e. from 3,093 in 1987 to 2,186 in 2005), the proportion The share of cyclists killed in the total number of deaths is relatively high (SWOV, 2006). In 2006, the proportion of cyclists killed accounted for 23% of all road fatalities and cyclist injuries accounted for 43% of all road accidents,” says Gerjo Kok. this shows that we have reduced the number of accidents but that we still have a long way to go. we have improved the overall safety of our bikers, but it would be nice if it was as safe as driving a car.