1. Bicycle Injuries in Your National Parks CDR Sara Newman LT Jennifer Cheng-Dobson Public Risk Management Program National Park Service USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium 2012 June 20, 2012

2. Overview Background Bicycle injuries in the National Park Service (NPS) Prevention strategies in parks Case examples

3. National National Park Service Regions

4. Injuries in the U.S. Injury is the leading cause of death among persons ages 1-44 (2007) 1 person dies from injury every 3 min > 2.8 million hospitalized each year > $406 billion in medical costs and lost productivity CDC. www.cdc.gov/injury/overview/leading_cod.html. 2007

5. Bicycle Injuries in the US (2010) 618 fatal –87% male –64% between ages 25-64 years 51,000 non-fatal –80% male –51% between ages 25-64 years $4 billion/yr NHTSA www.bicyclinginfo.org 2009

6. " If a disease were killing our children at the rate unintentional injuries are, the public would be outraged and demand that this killer be stopped." -C. Everett Koop, US Surgeon General 1982-1989

7. Injuries in our national parks On average 3 visitors die in our parks every week* An average of 14 people are seriously injured in our parks every day Source: GPRA 2005-2011 * Due to Unintentional Injuries or Accidents

8. Distribution of Injuries 100% of fatal injuries reported by 55 parks (2011) 97% of injuries reported by 100 parks (2011) Source: PMDS 2011* Due to Unintentional Injuries

9. Demographic of Visitor Injuries 76% male, 17% female (7% unk) PRMP Visitor Injury Data System N=117, Unknown = 38

10. Unintentional Visitor Fatalities, by Cause, FY2011 PRMP Visitor Injury Data System N=155

11. Bicycle Injuries in NPS Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011

12. NPS Bicycle Fatalities 2007-2011: 12 bike related fatalities 83% male 75% between the ages of 25-65 25% involved collision with a motor vehicle

13. Studying three national parks George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon Trail (VA/DC/MD) Cape Cod National Seashore (MA) Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park (DC/MD/WV) Others: Saguaro (AZ), Golden Gate (CA), Rock Creek Park (DC/MD)

14. Bicycle Injury Results Bicycle injuries were the leading cause of injury at each park Fatal bike injuries at one park More females than males at Cape Cod Between 56%-71% between ages 25-64

15. Prevention Strategies – 3Es Engineering Enforcement Education

16. National Park Service Mission …to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. Title 16 Chapter 1, Section 1 Organic Act of 1916

17. Park Service Challenges Multiple types of terrains –Trails (paved and not) –Roads –Trails crossing roads –Uneven pavement Cant always meet industry standards Multiple jurisdictions Limited environment control

18. George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon Trail (DC/MD/VA) Charles Opalak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2010

19. City of Alexandria Junior Bike Ambassadors George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA/DC/MD Trail ride with a ranger Mutual outreach at Trail Days Charles Opalak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2010

20. Brochures and maps Bike bell installation Education Trail Days – Mount Vernon Trail George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA/DC/MD Charles Opalak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2010

21. 2010 Trail Pledges & Contact Cards George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA/DC/MD Charles Opalak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2010

22. Bicycle Safety at the Seashore Cape Cod National Seashore, MA Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011

23. Cape Cod National Seashore, MA Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011

24. Cape Cod National Seashore, MA Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011

25. Bicycle Safety at the Seashore Cape Cod National Seashore, MA Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011

26. Bicycle Safety at the Seashore Cape Cod National Seashore, MA Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011

27. Safety Signs Cape Cod National Seashore, MA Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011

28. Successful Prevention Strategies

29. Haleakala National Park, HI Sara Newman, 2007

30. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH Luke Hamilton. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2009

31. Safe is Sound Reduced injuries by 83% in target areas Removed poles blocking road Extended rails on trails Enhanced education to cyclists Cuyahoga Valley National Park. 2012

32. Data Limitations/ Challenges Incomplete injury data No injury rates Lacking detailed and accurate visitation data Lack of dedicated staff in public risk management

33. Summary Injury prevention in the national parks provides a unique challenge Combining the 3E strategy has worked More effective strategies result from better data

34. Next Steps Enhance data Focus on program evaluation

35. Acknowledgements Charles Opalak Brenna Woziak Brian Werner Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH Haleakala National Park, HI

36. CDR Sara Newman, DrPH, MCP Sara_newman@nps.gov (202) 513-7225 LT Jennifer Cheng-Dobson, MPH Jennifer_cheng@nps.gov (202) 513-7219