Cycling Safety Research

Research into cycling safety provides a solid foundation for all road safety initiatives and is a critical part of the process in establishing practical policy. The Amy Gillett Foundation is supporting valuable research in this area, in conjunction with accident research organisations such as the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC).

The AGF offers details of current studies and results into cycle safety, sharing our vision with both the cycling community and the greater public. Our Research and Policy Manager, Dr Marilyn Johnson PhD, also conducts important research on behalf of the AGF.

Cycling safety related publications

Cycling Futures

This book explores the insights generated locally and internationally on the past, present and future of cycling.

Victoria Law Foundation’s free Bike Law publication

A bike rider’s guide to road rules in Victoria.

Road crashes involving bike riders in Victoria, 2002–2012:

This study is a multi-year analysis of bicycle rider crash statistics undertaken using Victorian CrashStats. It clearly shows that there are distinct differences in the crash profiles of fatal bike rider crashes compared to non-fatal crashes.

Why do cyclists infringe at red lights? An investigation of Australian cyclists’ reasons for red light infringement

This study investigated the behavioural, attitudinal and traffic factors contributing to red light infringement by Australian cyclists using a national online survey.

MACCS Monash Alfred Cyclist Crash Study

Data collected from Patients presenting to The Alfred and Sandringham Hospital Emergency Departments who were riders of bicycles involved in a crash provide insight on crash causation and associated injury burdens which can inform the development, prioritisation and targeting of effective countermeasures.

Want safer cycling? Don’t dismiss dooring

Every year, more Australians – particularly in cities – are riding to work. More cyclists means fewer cars on the road, less congestion, less pollution and fewer health problems. But every year more people are injured riding bikes, many of them following crashes with opened car doors. This article explores if we are doing enough to keep cyclists safe.

Making bike safety research count

Given the lack of participation data and the underreporting of cyclist injury crashes, it is difficult to determine the magnitude of cyclist road trauma with any precision. This lack of data highlights the neglect in Australia of cyclist-focused monitoring that is essential to understanding injury rates and factors that contribute to cyclist crashes. The Amy Gillett Foundation (AGF) has developed a systematic policy development approach that identifies two issues: safe overtaking distances and cyclist-open vehicle door crashes, explored in this paper.

Riding through red lights: the rate, characteristics and risk factors of non-compliant urban commuter cyclists*

This study determined the rate and associated factors of red light infringement among urban commuter cyclists. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a covert video camera to record cyclists at 10 sites across metropolitan Melbourne, Australia from October 2008 to April 2009.

Cyclist safety: an investigation of how cyclists and drivers interact on the roads

Cyclists are vulnerable road users and the most severe injury outcomes for on-road cyclists are from collisions involving a motor vehicle. Research undertaken in this thesis aimed to identify contributing factors in unsafe cyclist-driver events to inform efforts to reduce the incidence of cyclist-driver crashes and cyclist injury severity outcomes.

Bicycle helmet use, an excerpt from – Cyclist safety: an investigation of how cyclists and drivers interact on the roads

The use of bicycle helmets by cyclists is widely supported amongst the injury prevention and health promotion communities.

There is extensive research that addresses the efficacy of helmets in reducing the severity of head injuries and several researchers who dispute the need or efficacy of helmets.

Helmet-cam captures bike accidents (and could make cycling safer)

How can we make our roads safer for our cyclists?

One method is to analyse the last few seconds before a cycling crash occurs. Finding out what happens in those final seconds was the main objective of this study of cyclists’ experiences on Melbourne roads using a compact video camera.

The application of a naturalistic driving method to investigate on-road cyclist behaviour*

The aim of this research was to investigate the behaviour of on-road commuter cyclists and their interactions with other road users in urban areas using a helmet-mounted video camera. Cycling is increasing in popularity popular in Australia; however, cyclists are physically vulnerable road users. To date, there has been little research on behavioural risk factors associated with collisions between cyclists and drivers, and much has relied on post-event data. Absent from this approach is an understanding of what contributed to collisions and near-collisions, in particular the behaviour of cyclists and drivers.

Painting a designated space: cyclist and driver compliance at cycling infrastructure at intersections

This study evaluated cyclist and driver compliance at cycling infrastructure at signalised intersections to determine the effectiveness of the infrastructure in creating a designated space for cyclists. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted during peak travel times at six sites in Melbourne in March 2009.

Naturalistic cycling study: identifying risk factors for on-road commuter cyclists

This study identified risk factors for collisions/near-collisions involving on-road commuter cyclists and drivers. A naturalistic cycling study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia, with cyclists wearing helmet-mounted video cameras. Video recordings captured cyclists’ perspective of the road and traffic behaviours including head checks, reactions and manoeuvres.

Cyclist bunch riding: a review of the literature

This report is a review of the literature on cyclists who ride in large groups or bunches on public roads. The research was conducted following the Victorian State Coroner’s investigation into the death of an elderly pedestrian, following a collision with a cyclist who was riding in a bunch. The aims of the review were to understand the behaviour of bunch riders, particularly the behaviours that may contribute to increased risk of collision and to make recommendations for effective enforcement and countermeasure strategies for this road user group.

Cyclists and red lights – a study of the behaviour of commuter cyclist in Melbourne*

The primary aim of this research was to investigate the behaviours of cyclists and their interactions with vehicles at signalised intersections.The results focus on the three types of behaviour at red lights. Males were more likely to continue through the red light than females and the majority of males who rode through red lights were runners. The findings are important as they differentiate between the types of red light running behaviour and highlight factors influencing cyclists risk exposure.