More Bikes, Fewer Bike Accidents

In a study that at first glance seems counterintuitive, researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia reviewed safety studies from 17 countries and 68 cities in California and found that the more people bike in a community, the less they collide with motorists. “It appears that motorists adjust their behavior in the presence of increasing numbers of people bicycling because they expect or experience more people cycling,” said Julie Hatfield, and injury expert from the university.

With fewer accidents, people perceive cycling as safer, so more people cycle, thus making it even safer, she said. “Rising
cycling rates mean motorists are more likely to be cyclists, and
therefore be more conscious of, and sympathetic towards, cyclists,”
she said. Safety experts said the decrease in accidents that comes
with an increase in cycling is independent of improvements in
cycling-friendly laws and better infrastructure such as bike paths.
The safety studies reviewed were from Australia, Denmark, the
Netherlands, 14 other European countries, and 68 cities in
California. Although the review focused on bicycling, it appears
that the more is safer rule also applies to pedestrians, Hatfield
said.