Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Bicycling

Study Shows There Is Safety in Numbers for Cyclists

9_15_08_pasadena.jpg

It may seem paradoxical to some, but researchers at the University of South Whales in Australia shows that the more people that bicycle on the roads, the safer cyclists are.  The study included research from cyclists in
Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, 14 European countries and 68
Californian cities.  Put briefly, the study concludes that the more cyclists there are on the road, the more likely that drivers will recognize them as part of the transportation system and be aware of their presence.

Dr. Julie Hatfield, an injury expert from
UNSW, explains what she calls the "Virtuous Cycle" of more people biking in Science Daily,

"The likelihood that an individual cyclist will be struckby a motorist falls with increasing rate of bicycling in a community.And the safer cycling is perceived to be, the more people are preparedto cycle."

If we accept the researcher's findings that to improve cyclist safety we need to get more people cycling, it raises questions about the effects of advertising campaigns built around encouraging safe cycling.  Remember the City of Los Angeles' award winning advertisement that compares cyclists to insects who need to be trained? 

Dr. Chris Rissel, co-author of a 2008 report on cycling safety with Dr. Hatfield, tells Science Daily that these types of advertiesments help keep people off their bikes and make the streets more dangerous.

"We should create a cycling friendly environment and accentuatecycling's positives rather than stress negatives with 'safetycampaigns' that focus on cyclists without addressing drivers and roadconditions. Reminding people of injury rates and risks, to wear helmetsand reflective visible clothes has the unintended effect of reinforcingfears of cycling which discourages people from cycling."

Photo:Los Angeles Streetsblog/Flickr

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Metro Operations Committee Approves Lyft Bike-Share Contract

The Metro Operations Committee unanimously approved a five-year $200M contract with Lyft to operate Metro Bike Share

May 15, 2025

Metro Expands Bus Lane Automated Ticketing to Olive/Grand in DTLA

Never park in a bus-only lane. Never park at a bus stop.

May 13, 2025

Bike-Share Should Belong to the People Who Need It Most

If we want bike-share to thrive, we have to treat it as the public good it is. That means public investment, strong labor standards, meaningful community partnerships, and deep respect for the people who make the system work.

May 13, 2025
See all posts