Maybe a difference of five or even 10 miles per hour might not sound like a lot to someone, but when you look at the data, it makes a significant difference in the likelihood of injuries and fatalities…
MBJ, we’re being killed. Lower the speed limit in Chicago.
Speed is the number one factor in the deadliness of a crash. It’s true that speed alone isn’t what makes cars so dangerous to cyclists and pedestrians, but it is very important. Also, while riding a bike having cars whizzing past at 40+ MPH a few feet from you is unpleasant and scary. This discourages people riding, and causes fewer bikes on the road, which means car drivers think about them less and you get more “she came out of nowhere!” statements from drivers.