Question

Despite a dramatic increase in the number of people riding bicycles for recreation in Parkville, a recent report by the Parkville Department of Transportation shows that the number of accidents involving bicycles has decreased for the third consecutive year.
Which of the following, if true during the last three years, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy in the facts above?

• A. The Parkville Department of Recreation confiscated abandoned bicycles and sold them at auction to any interested Parkville residents.
• B. Increased automobile and bus traffic in Parkville has been the leading cause of the most recent increase in automobile accidents.
• C. Because of the local increase in the number of people bicycling for recreation, many out-of-town bicyclists ride in the Parkville area.
• D. The Parkville Police Department enforced traffic rules for bicycle riders much more vigorously and began requiring recreational riders to pass a bicycle safety course.
• E. The Parkville Department of Transportation canceled a program that required all bicycles to be inspected and registered each year.

Hint:

To solve a paradox, look for a new piece of information that introduces a cause for the unexpected outcome. If X increases, but Y decreases (contrary to expectation), look for a new factor Z that actively works to decrease Y. Here, Z is the new safety program.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question presents a paradox and asks for a resolution. A paradox is a seemingly contradictory situation. Here, the number of cyclists is increasing, but the number of cycling accidents is decreasing. We need to find an explanation that accounts for both facts. How can more cycling lead to fewer accidents?
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The core of the paradox is that an increase in an activity is accompanied by a decrease in the negative outcomes of that activity. A good resolution will introduce a new factor that has made the activity safer.
- (A) This is irrelevant. The sale of abandoned bicycles might contribute to the number of riders, but it doesn't explain why accidents have decreased.
- (B) This discusses automobile accidents, not bicycle accidents. It's irrelevant to the discrepancy.
- (C) This would likely worsen the paradox. An influx of out-of-town riders, who might be unfamiliar with the area, would be expected to lead to more accidents, not fewer.
- (D) This provides a perfect explanation. The increased enforcement of traffic rules and a mandatory safety course would logically lead to safer cycling behavior. Safer behavior, in turn, would cause a decrease in the number of accidents, even if the total number of cyclists increased. This new safety measure reconciles the two seemingly contradictory facts.
- (E) Canceling a safety program (inspections) would be expected to lead to more accidents, not fewer. This would deepen the mystery rather than resolve it.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The introduction of new, vigorously enforced safety measures provides a logical reason for the decrease in accidents despite the increase in riders.