They may have edited the article, but it reads, "up to twice as likely" and that observation is based on the incidents of bicyclists hit by hybrids vs standards (.6 to .3 percent respectively).
Also, to say that one can avoid being hit by a car by simply looking both ways when crossing a street is a little crass. I'm sure the thousands of pedestrians actually injured and killed by cars every year never thought to "look both ways".
I don't think the initial hypothesis is so bad: If you can't hear something coming, you're more likely to get hit by it. A gas engine is significantly noisier than a hybrid one.
Also, to say that one can avoid being hit by a car by simply looking both ways when crossing a street is a little crass. I'm sure the thousands of pedestrians actually injured and killed by cars every year never thought to "look both ways".