Cyclists tend to break bones at slower speeds. Pro-cyclists racing down mountains will lose a lot of skin in a fall but unless they hit something hard (rock, pole, wall) they don't tend to break bones. At walking speeds, a sideways fall often results in broken collar bones and wrists.
It is all about the angular momentum of the cyclist wrt to the road.
Whenever I go on a group ride with someone that doesn't even have gloves on, I say I'll give them five bucks for every second they're able to lightly press their knuckles to the concrete, then rub them back and forth vigorously.
Nobody's ever managed to make it more that a second.
I was 9 when I fell off my bike and broke my femur. Being in traction for 4 weeks followed by a full body cast for 12 was not a very fun way to spend the 4th grade.
> At walking speeds, a sideways fall often results in broken collar bones
That's pretty much what happened to me. I was going walking speed on a bike, popped a wheelie, handle bars came off, I tumbled forward and landed collar bone first onto a curb. Hairline fracture at about age 14.
I pulled the brake lever on my road bike once, and it FELL OFF. Went right into the front spokes and launched me over the handlebars like a cannonball. It was like putting a metal rod right into the front spokes.
It is all about the angular momentum of the cyclist wrt to the road.