It's 'official' - Cycle facilities... don’t improve safety

[andyoxon]

From CTC newsnet

Cycle facilities encourage cycling but don’t improve safety

Three Danish researchers have published what is probably the largest ever study of the safety impacts of cycle facilities. Based on analysis of 8500 cyclist collisions, 1500 traffic counts and 1000 interviews, the researchers found that cycle facilities do indeed encourage more people to cycle and make cyclists feel safer; yet the reality is that they actually reduce cyclists’ safety, with improvements in cyclists’ safety between junctions being outweighed by increased risk at or near junctions. Read the executive summary (the full report is in Danish). The researchers conclude that well-designed cycle facilities do have their place (after all, the health benefits of the extra cycling will far outweigh the increased injury risk which, in the wider scheme of things, is still pretty low). However, nobody should assume that it is necessarily safer for cyclists to use them – if anything, this research rather suggests the opposite. If only this report had come out 6 months earlier, it might have made it a whole lot easier to win our Highway Code campaign!

 

[Gasman]

Surely another candidate for the 'No shoot, Sherlock!' award.

 

[Keith Oates]

There's always more then one point of view on almost every subject. I'm not clear what is being said but do the suggest that if you use the cycle facilities in relative safety you will be less aware or prepared for the 'dangers' of crossing junctions etc.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[beanzontoast]

Cycle facilites around here are so badly maintained, I've virtually abandoned cycle paths. I feel safer on the road.