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Enforcement + Road Safety

Bicycle Regulations

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Solutions

Statistics & Common Crashes

Solutions

Key actions through which cycling safety can be improved include:

Prevention through better Engineering and Planning:

Managing the traffic mix by separating different road users to reduce potential conflict;
Speed management schemes such as speed zones and other traffic calming measures;
Infrastructure design that caters for cyclist security and crash protective principles;

Prevention through Marketing, Education and Enforcement:

changing attitudes and behaviour of cyclists and motorists through information and education (road safety campaigns, safer route selection through provision of cycle maps, information on the value of lights and reflective clothing or stickers, cycle helmets, mirrors, better brakes), training (defensive cycling skills, maintenance) and through enforcement of traffic law;
consulting and informing cyclists about changes being made to fit their needs;
changing priorities of policymakers/professionals responsible for the traffic system.

Adaptation through better equipment and reporting of incidents/hazards:

minimising consequences of accidents when they do occur through encouraging use of protective equipment such as cycle helmets and safety modifications to bicycles and cars;
taking remedial action when incidents or hazards are discovered.

A selection of resources under these three categories is listed below.

Prevention through Engineering and Planning

Well designed bicycle infrastructure improves and enhances safety. If funding is made available, Engineering and Planning is generally the best solution to any safety issue. While Engineering and Planning and Funding (e.g. through Black Spot programs) are covered on other pages, particular resources have a strong safety focus. Some of these are listed below:

Risk of injury for bicycling on cycle tracks versus in the street (USA)

22nd Feb 2011

The objective of this study conducted in Montreal (with a longstanding network of cycle tracks) was to compare bicyclist injury rates on cycle tracks versus in the street. The study results, which found that the injury risk of bicycling on cycle tracks is less than bicycling in streets, were published in the Journal of Injury Prevention in February 2011.