A survey across 25 European cities with 7,500 respondents has found that London ranks poorly for cycling safety, with more than eight in 10 Londoners feeling safer driving rather than cycling.
This compares to just two in 10 in Copenhagen and Amsterdam stating they would feel safer in a car.
Despite ongoing investment in sustainable transportation with Transport for London’s (TfL) new Cycling Action Plan, new research by smart mobility solutions provider, Cyclomedia, suggests Londoners find the city is not currently designed well for cycling.
In terms of road safety, 45% of Londoners said they ultimately would not recommend moving to the city due to concerns about dangerous traffic. This contrasts to Warsaw, Vienna and Oslo, where 68% of residents said they would recommend residency based on transport.
What’s more, the report identified three key areas to address to make roads safer and more appealing for cycling – traffic control, improved visibility and cycling space allocation.
Meanwhile, four in 10 Londoners said they believe better separation for vehicles on roads would improve safety, with three in 10 saying that reduced speed limits would also help.
Elizabeth Evans, UK sales manager at Cyclomedia, said: “We’re getting a clear picture from data that the complexity of transport environments in London means overall safety for cycling is impacted.
“With mounting concerns for hazardous situations and potential road accidents, it’s vital to take a look at infrastructure and road design first.”
The data states that 28% also believe clearer traffic signs and improved cycling paths are needed to make roads safer.
Additionally, one in 1o were in favour of banning cars completely from the city centre and transforming central spaces into pedestrianised zones. There is also growing sentiment for banning cars from city centres in Paris (20%) and Amsterdam (25%).
“For Londoners, improving road safety and creating more convenient routes to travel will help generate confidence in cycling,” added Evans.
“Exploring sustainable modes of transport is becoming increasingly important to tackle challenges around air quality and traffic congestion.
“Necessary design changes, around traffic control, improved visibility and cycling space allocation at the street level, can be enacted through strategy from local authorities and government.”
Innovations and achievements in active travel and road safety will be highlighted and celebrated at the second annual CiTTi Awards on 21 November 2023 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table today!
