Bicycling fatalities among children are on the decline, but national statistics show such incidents have been rising for one particular group of adults.

More and more men are taking up biking for transportation, exercise or just for fun. In fact, a recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that from 1975 to 2012, men were the only ones to see an overall increase in bicycle use. The proportion of women cyclists stayed steady, while fewer children biked.

Taking up cycling is good for the environment and potentially good for one’s health. Still, the rising popularity of biking among men has been one factor leading to a jump in fatal cycling accidents for this group.

Among riders ages 35-54, deaths stemming from accidents with motor vehicles almost tripled during the study period, the report showed. Eighty-two percent of these occurred with men.

Kids, on the other hand, saw an incredible drop in such deaths. The yearly mortality rate for kids on bikes decreased 92 percent during these same years. This could be because fewer kids were biking, but researchers say many variables could have influenced these fatality rates.

Some of these factors include the prevalence of helmet use, enforcement of traffic laws, road design, the volume of traffic and behavior of cyclists and drivers.

These are the areas where improved practices can make a big difference for the safety of cyclists and motorists alike.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers tips for drivers and cyclists to share the road safely. One of the most important is to not drink alcohol before driving or cycling.

Cycling is a fun and healthy hobby for children and adults. Let’s all do our part to make sure it is a safe activity, too.