Vehicle - Cyclist
Bicycling is a sustainable and affordable method of transport.
Bicycles require less to be spent on road infrastructure than heavier, larger vehicles. Owning a bicycle significantly improves the opportunities for education and employment of people on low incomes, particularly in rural areas of low income countries (Bicycle Empowerment Network, Bicycle reference manual for developing countries). In higher income countries cycling is an environmentally friendly and healthy activity.
However, cyclists are amongst the most vulnerable of all road users. In some countries where cycles are a primary mode of transport, cyclist death and injury can form a significant component of all casualties. The severity of cyclist crashes is often much higher than passenger or heavy vehicle crashes in similar situations, due to lack of physical protection.
The level of risk experienced by cyclists is related to the following contributory factors:
- Interaction with larger vehicles (cars, trucks and buses)
- Road surface issues (such as roughness, potholes or debris on the road)
- Speed environment - both for cyclists and other vehicles
- Road design and traffic management
- Inadequate physical separation from traffic
- Other obstructions on the road.
The severity of cyclist crashes is strongly dependent on the speed of traffic. Research shows that the chances of a cyclist surviving an impact with a motorised vehicle reduces dramatically above 30 km/h, and even at lower speeds than this, serious harm can be caused, especially to elderly or child cyclists.
In many places brakes and a bell are required for a bicycle to be ridden on the road (WHO World report on road traffic injury prevention). Bells are useful to alert other road users to the presence of a bicycle, and can help avoid collisions with other non-motorised road users. Many also require that the bicycle has front and rear reflectors, and sometimes battery powered front and rear lights if the bicycle is to be ridden after dark (Bicycle Laws and Penalties – RTA Centre for Road Safety). Wearing a helmet is also often required ( Treatments\Safe People\Helmet and Protective clothing ).
To reduce the risk of falls and collisions, bicycle riders should be encouraged and educated to
Well designed cyclist training courses with on-road components can also be effective (RoSPA road safety advice- Cycling).
In many developing countries, there are few skilled repairers, and repairs are rarely made with the correct spare parts (Bicycle reference manual for developing countries). Therefore, programs such as the Bicycle Empowerment Network, which imports recycled bicycles and also trains people to become bicycle repairers are of value.
Further information on bicycle safety can be found at BikeSafe’s Bicycle Countermeasure Selection System website (BikeSafe – Bicycle Countermeasure Selection System). This is an online resource providing practitioners with up-to-date information about how to improve the safety and mobility of cyclists within the transportation system.
- Safer Roads
- Estimated cost
- Casualty Reduction
- Central Hatching
- Low
- 10-25%
- Central Turning Lane Full Length
- Low
- 10-25%
- Parking Improvements
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Regulate Roadside Commercial Activity
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Bicycle Facilities
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- School Zones
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Sight Distance (obstruction removal)
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Street Lighting
- Medium
- 10-25%
- Shoulder Sealing
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Speed Management
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Traffic Calming
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Lane Widening
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Service Road
- High
- 25-40%
- None recorded
Safer Roads
- Safer Roads
- Estimated cost
- Casualty Reduction
- Central Hatching
- Low
- 10-25%
- Central Turning Lane Full Length
- Low
- 10-25%
- Parking Improvements
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Regulate Roadside Commercial Activity
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Bicycle Facilities
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- School Zones
- Low to medium
- 10-25%
- Sight Distance (obstruction removal)
- Low to medium
- 25-40%
- Street Lighting
- Medium
- 10-25%
- Shoulder Sealing
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Speed Management
- Medium
- 25-40%
- Traffic Calming
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Lane Widening
- Medium to high
- 25-40%
- Service Road
- High
- 25-40%
Safer Vehicles
- None recorded
Safer People
- Safer People
Did you know?
New Car Assessment Programs (NCAP) test new cars and give them a safety rating from one star (least safe) to five stars (safest).
Latest Case Studies
See practical examples of how deaths and serious injuries have been prevented.
