The true costs of our mobility choices
Health benefits
Discover the often-overlooked benefits of cycling, for your health and for society
Discover all 4 subjects of the thematic
3
Riding Safely
The security of Quebec’s cyclists is improving every year. Why? Because more and more separated cycling infrastructures are being built and traffic calming measure implemented.
Bike Safety Determinants
The clear reduction of cyclists injured or killed in road incidents can be observed even though the number of cyclists and registered vehicles has steadily increased every year. This paradox can be explained by the expansion of separated cycling infrastructures and the implementation of traffic calming measures contributing to safe cohabitation between all road users.
Cyclists victim of road trauma 2000-2020
-62%
Biking networks 2000-2020
+111%
Number of registered vehicles 2000-2020
+51%
Number of cyclists 2000-2020
+29%
Where to Prioritize Cycling Infrastructure?
All roads do not present the same amount of risk for cyclists.
Riding on an arterial road, the number lanes for motorized vehicles (especially at intersections), the presence of on-street parking (notably with high turnover rate) are three key factors contributing to cyclists’ insecurity. In lower income neighborhood, streets combining all of these factors are usually more present, making biking more difficult.
The installation of safe and separated cycling lanes from vehicles is an important measure not only to reduce the number of collisions on our roads, but also improve social equity.
Numbers of Collisions Implicating a Cyclist
x 5.5
at intersections with an arterial road
Numbers of Collisions Implicating a Cyclist
x 3.6
at intersections with roads counting a high number of lanes
Number of cyclist injuries
x 4
at intersections with traffic lights
Doorings
6.5
doorings per month on the island of Montreal between 2019 and 2022
Sources:
- (Intersections) Direction régionale de la santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'île-de-Montréal (2021). Évaluation d'impact sur la santé du Réseau vélo express - Rapport final
- (Traffic lights) Strauss, J., Miranda-Moreno, L. F. and Morency, P. (2015). Mapping cyclist activity and injury risk in a network combining smartphone GPS data and bicycle counts. Accident Analysis & Prevention, Volume 83
- (Dooring) Direction régionale de la santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de l'île-de-Montréal (2023). Portrait des emportiérages sur le territoire montréalais
Other Measures to Improve Cyclists’ Safety
When separated Infrastructures are not possible, cyclists and motorists have to ride alongside. In these instances, traffic calming measures are necessary for proper cohabitation.
Vehicles’ speed increases drastically the risk of collisions and the gravity of injuries in such cases. The probability of surviving during a collision with a vehicle going at 50 km/h is only of 20 %. At 30 km/h, the chances of survival are of 90 %.
The Vision Zero strategy aims at eliminating all deaths and severe injuries on roads. This approach to road safety is more and more adopted across the world and the province of Quebec. To achieve this goal, pedestrians and cyclists should not have to share the same lane as motorized vehicles if the speed limit is above 30 km/h. On faster streets, separated infrastructures are essential to ensure the safety of these users.
The number of motorized vehicles circulating on a street, which is often determined by its classification and its width, directly influences how safe cyclists feel and the risks of collisions with motorists (particularly at intersections). Considering this, it is paramount to limit transit circulation on streets used by cyclists without separated infrastructures.
This feeling of unsafety is especially exacerbated by heavy vehicles (truck, buses, etc.), stressing the need for proper infrastructure.
In Quebec, the steady increase of the number of registered vehicles poses a serious concern for pedestrians’ and cyclists’ safety. Vehicles are more and more numerous, large and heavy. As of now, almost one out two vehicles is an SUV or a van. Between 2013 and 2021, the increase of registered vehicles grew at a higher rate than the population.
The more there are cyclists on our street, the less there seem to be deaths and severe injuries due to road traumas. It appears that this is explained by the fact that drivers get more used to the presence of cyclists and cohabitate more safely with them.
Credits: © Anne Williams
Youth’s Health
Because they are developing physically and cognitively, children are the most vulnerable road users. Despite this fact, daily biking from an early age remains one of the best ways to access the long-term benefits of an active lifestyle and develop lasting good habits. Learn more about this topic.
