Bicycle Victoria bemoans rider deaths

THE total number of bike riders dying on Australian roads has remained stagnant for 20 years despite improvements to road safety, according to a new report released by Bicycle Network.

The Bike Rider Fatality Report 1998-2017 found that while the total number of cyclist deaths fluctuates each year, the national annual average of 37 has barely changed in two decades.

However, the report notes that fatalities are reducing for all other road uses, with 1,225 deaths recorded in 2017 – 17 per cent less than that 20-year average of 1,487.

Last year, there were 38 cyclist deaths.

Bicycle Network chief executive officer Craig Richards said the report showed more must be done to reduce the risk and protect people who ride bikes on Australian roads.

“Every person that dies while riding a bike is one too many. It is unacceptable that there has been no meaningful reduction in the number of bike rider fatalities in the past two decades.

“It’s hard to see how we can reduce fatalities towards zero when we can barely reduce them by one. People who ride bikes will continue to die on our roads until urgent action is taken by all levels of government.”

The report also highlights that 83 per cent of bike rider deaths involved another vehicle, and that these vehicles were usually travelling at speed. More than 95 per cent of fatal crashes involved vehicles travelling on roads with speed limits of 50km/h or above.

Men aged 40-49 were involved in 87 per cent of road deaths.

Bicycle Network has also made 14 key recommendations to reduce deaths for people who ride bikes on Australian roads.

“We need a safe systems approach that protects bike riders from motor traffic, reduces speed limits, educates and trains road users and fast-tracks improved vehicle technology,” Mr Richards said.

“A fully integrated approach like this is the only way to significantly reduce fatalities.”

To read the full report, head to bicyclenetwork.com.au.