(The main hypothesis for the safer-bike-share-riders effect is I believe that the things are professionally maintained, low-speed city bikes, heavy clunkers, and only ridden on paved surfaces. Rattly-headset no-brakes deathtrap bikes are eliminated, road-bike speed demon riding is eliminated, mountain biking on rugged terrain is eliminated, BMX darting and leaping is eliminated. All they’re good for is a relaxed grannyish riding style.
Which makes you pretty much as safe as walking if not more so, even without a helmet)
