Reports from R. Methorst et al Highlight Recent Findings in Risk Management (Can cycling safety be improved by opening all unidirectional cycle paths…

Reports from R. Methorst et al Highlight Recent Findings in Risk Management (Can cycling safety be improved by opening all unidirectional cycle paths for cycle traffic in both directions? A theoretical examination of available literature and ...)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- New research on Risk Management is the subject of a report. According to news reporting from The Hague, Netherlands, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "Many studies have found bicycle-motor vehicle crashes to be more likely on bidirectional cycle paths than on unidirectional cycle paths because drivers do not expect cyclists riding at the right side of the road. In this paper we discuss the hypothesis that opening all unidirectional cycle paths for cycle traffic in both directions prevent this lack of expectancy and accordingly improves cycling safety."

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research, "A new national standard requires careful consideration because a reversal is difficult once cyclists are used to their new freedom of route choice. We therefore explored the hypothesis using available data, research, and theories. The results show that of the length of cycle paths along distributor roads in the Netherlands, 72% is bidirectional. If drivers would become used to cyclists riding at the left side of the road, this result raises the question of why bidirectional cycle paths in the Netherlands still have a poor safety record compared to unidirectional cycle paths. Moreover, our exploration suggested that bidirectional cycle paths have additional safety problems. It increases the complexity of unsignalized intersections because drivers have to scan more directions in a short period of time. Moreover, there are some indications that the likelihood of frontal crashes between cyclists increases. We reject the hypothesis that opening all unidirectional cycle paths for cycle traffic in both directions will improve cycle safety."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "We recommend more attention for mitigating measures given the widespread application of bidirectional cycle paths in the Netherlands."

For more information on this research see: Can cycling safety be improved by opening all unidirectional cycle paths for cycle traffic in both directions? A theoretical examination of available literature and data. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2017;105():38-43. Accident Analysis and Prevention can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Accident Analysis and Prevention - www.journals.elsevier.com/accident-analysis-and-prevention/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting R. Methorst, Minist Infrastruct & Environm, The Hague, Netherlands. Additional authors for this research include P. Schepers, J. Kamminga, T. Zeegers and E. Fishman.

Keywords for this news article include: The Hague, Netherlands, Europe, Risk Management.

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