Cycling Far Safer than Reported

Cycling Far Safer than Reported

Recent media headlines suggest one in three cyclists had accidents last
year. This is misleading, as about 1 in one thousand cyclists is seriously
injured or killed per year, and cycling’s overall safety is comparable to
other modes of transport.

Cycling Advocates’ Network spokesperson Stephen McKernon says “Headlines
about research on cycling accidents are entirely misleading and play on
people's fears. The research shows cycling is safer when brightly-coloured
safety clothing is used, and is based only on cyclists who trained for the
Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. The research should not be taken out of
context, and it is wrong to say that a third of cyclists have had accidents,
based only on the injuries of a small group training for a race."

Mr Mckernon adds, “Ministry of Transport injury data and SPARC physical
activity data show only 1 in one thousand cyclists is seriously injured or
killed per year. This compares to about 5 in one thousand motor vehicle
drivers and passengers, and on this basis, cycling would be judged safer.
Injury rates in transport are more usually based on reported injuries per
kilometres travelled, and the injury rate for all New Zealand cyclists per
year would be comparable to the injury rate for all motorists (drivers plus
passengers). Cycling is relatively safe overall, and portraying it as
dangerous in this way is completely incorrect.”

Mr McKernon says “Cyclists want to share the road in safety, and it is
important to support safe cycling with accurate reporting of research
results, such as those showing the high value of cyclists' safety clothing.
It is also important to provide accurate reports of cycling's safety if more
people are to recognise its benefits. Cycling is healthy, cheap, enjoyable,
relatively safe, and among the ten most popular physical activities in New
Zealand. It also helps reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and work days
lost to illness.”

There are over 750,000 cyclists in New Zealand per year and about 750
serious cycling injuries and deaths. There are about 2.5 million motor
vehicles and about 14,000 serious driving injuries and deaths.

ENDS

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