Safer roads for cyclists are needed
CYCLISTS are now at greater risk of serious injury, highlighting the need for more bike-friendly streets, according to new research. A study by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) and Cycling Scotland has found an 18% rise in the rate of serious injuries and deaths due to cycling accidents in the last 15 years.
While the overall numbers of injuries through cycling has fallen, the report’s authors have warned the real figures could be higher due to widespread underreporting of injuries and a lack of data on near misses.
The survey said issues with the accuracy and completeness of data on cycling injuries could mean risks are underestimated by more than half.
The GCPH and Cycling Scotland did not estimate the risk of cycling, due to incomplete figures, but highlighted people’s perception of risk as one of the biggest barriers to people getting on their bikes.
Shared roads and cyclists’ near miss experiences were cited as reasons for an increase in the perceived risk of cycling among the public.
Mairi Young, co-author of the report, called for a segregated cycling network to reduce the real or perceived risk for cyclists.
She said: “An integrated transport system where a bike can take you from door to door, and a comprehensive cycling network separated from motor traffic can reduce the risk of injury and improve cycling uptake.”
The report’s authors also want cycling to be made more accessible through safer roads and more broadly available cycle-hire schemes, such as Bike for All in Finnieston, which provides discounted bike hire rates for people on low or no income.
Keith Irving, head of Cycling Scotland, highlighted the importance of reporting cycling casualties. He said: “Together with infrastructure, education and enforcement, improving the evidence about cycling casualties, including the exposure to risk and underreporting of serious injuries is key to prevention.”
He added: “Cycling is fantastic for your health and the chance of serious injury is low, yet the perception of risk is understandably high, and fear of road traffic is the number one barrier to cycling.”