Even in the US cycling on average extends your life (i.e. the risk you assume is less than the health benefits you gain). (See the intro to this survey paper for details: http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/Pucher_Dill_Handy10.pdf In countries that are actually good at keeping their citizens happy and healthy (e.g. Denmark and Holland) the benefits of cycling are correspondingly even greater as they have effective policies that limit death and injury from poorly designed transport systems. The US, of course, could do that too, but that would require a less corrupt political system (and probably smarter citizens, too :-)