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Understanding the Relationship between Drivers and Cyclists (Australia)

This report, released in August 2011, documents a research project that investigated the extent of the tensions between cyclists and drivers and then takes the first steps to uncovering the components of these tensions.  The report suggests that the levels of tension in the driver-cyclist relationship occur in the  context of a society as a whole which is exhibiting behaviours and creating situations that  are likely to increase tensions in all walks of life.

The project's purpose was to understand the factors, behaviours and circumstances that lead to friction  between drivers and cyclists.  It found a series of overlapping factors that are likely to combine to create situations and interactions that lead to people experiencing tensions  (which may or may not manifest themselves in altered behaviours).  The report proposes a  series of factors that could form the basis of further investigation that could lead to actions  and policies if needed.

The research suggested that while there were reported tensions, the majority of reporting  came from (a) having seen behaviours that are considered dangerous and concluding that  ‘there is a tension’, meaning an actual or potential danger, (b) having heard others describe  similar situations, and (c) having read (occasionally seen) media reports which add to the  influence of either (a) or (b).  In a simplified summary, the community tends to think there is a lot more tension than is  actually reported – and that actually seems to occur on the roads.

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