"Those dang cyclists don't respect the rules of the road!" is a popular complaint heard from cars worldwide. But how do bikers and automobile drivers compare in terms of following traffic laws? That is just what one scientific research sought to uncover.
The study isn't technically new, dating back to before 2019, when the Danish government hired consultancy firm Rambll to investigate the issue using video cameras installed at crossroads around the nation. Researchers were able to watch over 28,000 riders using the cameras in the study.
In comparison to investigations conducted by the Danish Road Directorate, which discovered that 66% of vehicles violated traffic regulations, the camera-based cycling research discovered that just 4.9% of cyclists violated traffic laws when riding on bike routes. When bike routes were absent, the proportion rose to 14%.
The study's findings highlight the significant influence that accessible bike pathways may have on decreasing traffic offenses by cyclists, with cyclists riding outside of bike lanes three times more likely to violate traffic regulations. The researchers discovered that in smaller cities without well-established bike routes, bikers committed much more traffic violations than in areas with robust cycling infrastructure.
According to Forbes, the research's findings are remarkably comparable to those of a prior study, which included video analysis of over 80,000 bikers in Denmark and discovered a 5% incidence of traffic code violations.
Other studies from throughout the world have revealed comparable findings, such as one from the United Kingdom that discovered 16% of bikers ignored red lights. According to the survey, most bikers respected traffic regulations and "violation is not endemic."
Such research would be interesting to replicate in the United States, where most communities have mostly ignored riders' calls for safer bike routes. Contrary to popular belief, many drivers in the United States are opposed to the construction of bicycle infrastructure, despite a wealth of studies indicating that such infrastructure dramatically decreases traffic offenses.
While many opponents of cycling refer to bike riders flouting traffic regulations as a prevalent problem, the fact appears to be that statistical evidence for this view is lacking.
Instead, such beliefs may be exacerbated by the increased exposure of cycling-related traffic violations. While it is simple to see a cyclist traveling in the wrong way of traffic or cycling past a stop sign, many people have become numb to regular traffic offenses committed by automobile drivers, such as speeding, reckless driving, or parking in bike lanes. In aggregate, the rate of such traffic offenses committed by automobile drivers appears to substantially outweigh those committed by bicycles.
0 Comments