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Cycling is already a very safe and life-extending activity.
However, there are two well-proven ways to make cycling even safer.
By far the most effective way to reduce risk for all cyclists is to encourage more people to cycle. For every doubling of cycle use, the risk of injury per cyclist falls by around a third [1] [2].
This reduction in risk is much greater than anything yet achieved through the use of cycle helmets. It is a consequence that has been well-demonstrated across time and between countries, and is the principal explanation as to why the risk of cycling is lowest in countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark which have large cycling populations.
Conversely, anything that reduces the number of people who cycle, such as is generally the result of helmet promotion, increases risk for those who continue to do so.
The best way for individual people to enhance their own safety when cycling is to learn to cycle skilfully and in a vehicular manner. Good quality cycle training, given by instructors who are themselves vehicular cyclists, can be beneficial in achieving this. There are also books available that detail the principles of vehicular cycling [3] [4].
| See also: | Key facts about cycling safety |
| Risk and cycling | |
How safe is cycling? - an informative quiz  |
References
[1] Jacobsen PL. Safety in numbers: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling. Injury Prevention, 2003;9:205-209.
[2] Robinson DL. Safety in numbers in Australia: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 2005;16:47-51.
[3] Franklin JA. Cyclecraft. The Stationery Office, UK, 2004. ISBN 0117020516.
[4] Forester J. Effective Cycling. MIT Press, USA, 1993. ISBN 0262560704.
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