It’s cycling-safety study time again. This time, research from the University of Surrey has concluded that cycling is more dangerous than driving. All the studies conclude this, so I suppose it must be true.
This one just tots up the total hospital admissions for injuries sustained from cycling on the public road, so it has the merit of simplicity. There are some curiosities – many more injuries in summer (more people cycling), but a much smaller proportion of serious injuries. And, not unrelated I suspect, a smaller proportion of injuries resulting from collision with a car.
I’m guessing this is simply because a higher proportion of winter cyclists are commuters, who are probably using busier roads because, especially in London, trying to stick to the back streets means taking forever to get where you’re going. All the one-way systems designed to stop cars from making rapid progress that way stop cyclists just as effectively.
There is also some stuff about how injuries rates are vastly higher here than they are in the Netherlands or Denmark. This is more interesting, since the Danish model is the one that we keep hearing about. The problem, as far as I can see, is that Copenhagen (or Amsterdam) is very different from most British cities. It’s more compact, and the population is much more centralised. Most bike journeys are therefore short. In London especially, most trips are longer, so riders want to go much faster, which is why sales of fast commuting bikes are high, and why those crappy little shared bike-pedestrian paths are useless. They’re designed for pottering, not commuting.
I was originally booked to talk about this on Radio 4 last night, and got pulled at the last minute. But I got to hear the transport minister Paul Clarke explaining how much money they’re spending on bike lanes and the like.
You need to spend money wisely for it to help. I have only very rarely seen a bike facility that I thought was designed by a cyclist. Everyone who rides in London knows, or ought to know, that the one golden rule is never, never ride up the inside of stationary traffic coming up to lights. Never. Yet that’s exactly what the bike markings at most junctions require you to do. Obeying the current markings places you in danger. And that’s what they’re spending money on.
The other thing he said was that the government was spending money on training young cyclists – which is nice, but for the most part, injuries aren’t caused by bad cycling, but by bad driving. The dangers that cyclists are exposed to are not their fault – despite the efforts of the government to claim they are.
I’d rather they spent money on training drivers – like the ass who nearly flattened me yesterday, because apparently no on had ever told him not to overtake round a blind bend in a busy village. Improving the quality of driving would do more for cyclist safety than any number of bike lanes and ‘cyclists dismount’ signs. But I don’t suppose we’re going to see any such thing.
Thanks for the blogI coudn’t agree more with the blog.
The ill conceived cycling lane provision in my area drives me to dispair, and I feel safer riding where there is no provision for cyclists. One section of cycle lane is composed entirely of potholes let alone the usual road furniture we have to contend with! It seems to have more to do with hitting targets on cycle lane/path miles rather than increased safety. Perhaps the purpose is to persuade cyclists to leave the road permanently and speed up car journeys!
Driver awareness and tolerance of other road users is what keeps us all safe. The people who put us all in danger, whether cyclists or drivers, are those who think only of themselves and their needs.
Couldn’t agree more. About time cyclists were consulted in the construction of these ‘cycle’ paths/lanes. What with dodging pedestrians, dogs, lamposts, pot holes, litter, broken glass etc… I’d rather take my chances on the road thanks, at least the traffic is going roughly the same speed as me. It’s the drivers who need to be made more aware. They should be made to cycle around city streets before passing their driving test so they have some idea of what it’s like.
Hmm. Not sure.
[old git mode on]
When we were young pretty much everyone did a cycling proficiency course at junior school. I don’t know how widespread this was - it was not a posh school or area by any means. The use of cycles by younger kids was also much more widespread. I cycled the three miles to school every day, by myself, when I was age 8 to 10. I suspect that would be quite rare these days, speaking as parent of a 9 year old.
[old git mode off]
I think the point is that not only did cyclists get some formal instruction on how to cycle defensively - although it wasn’t called that then, but it also helped kids who would never cycle much as adults to have some idea of what it was like to be a cyclist.
Today I’m not convinced that this still happens.
And I’m not even going to get started on adherence to road law by cyclists.
Hmmm well having grown up in Denmark and now living in england I can only say that I have never felt as unsafe in my life on my bike as I do in this country. No bike lanes, the roads are horrible potholes everywhere, no rules for bikers (like crossing the road in two stops when you turn right) and a rather agressive driving culture where leaving space for bikes is apparently a big no no. A couple of months ago I read all the answers frmo the public regarding the articles about Mr. James Martin and his stupid remarks. I then read an article from Australia where it was almost the same stupid remarks. In Australia it was 10 to 1 for the mutual respect between bikers and drivers. In the UK it was teh opposite. 9 out of ten thought that Mr. MArtin was correct. To say the least I was petrified when I rode home that evening.
Yes Amsterdam and Copenhagen are smaller, but they share the same weather and flatness as London. As I see it biking is the only solution besides more tube lines to solve the traffic problems in London. I am very mucg looking forward to the introduction of lease bikes around London. When I was living in Paris they introduced them there and the effect was dramatic. Parisiennes who are not known for thier gentle driving style suddenly had to take the bikes into consideration. Also when we get more kids on bikes (would sort the morning runs problems and make them lose weight) I am sure those kids will have alot more respect for bikers and bikes when they get into thier cars as adults.
I loved you one hour book, it inspired me to start riding seriously (I have been commuting for 20 years on my mountain bike): Can wait to read more on your blog.