Sprawl Linked to Bicycle Fatalities?

There was another bicycle fatality in Durham today, due to an automobile collision, the third in the last six weeks.

Raleigh Durham ranks number three (3) of the highest sprawl metro areas in the nation, just behind the Triad (Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point) at number two and Riverside-San Bernardino, CA at number one, according to a recent study by Smart Growth America.   

It would be interesting to see if there is a higher correlation of bicycle/car collisions in metro areas that are higher on the sprawl index than in places that are ranked lower on the scale.  There is a substantial body of research documenting the link between sprawl and automobile crashes.

A link to Chatham County's Bicycle Plan of 2011, and a 12-step sprawl recovery guide.