Reducing bike rider fatalities
Together we can make sure everyone comes home from a ride
#TOGETHERWECAN
The problem
The annual number of people killed while riding a bike in Australia has not reduced for more than 20 years.
On average, 37 people are killed while riding a bike in Australia each year.
This average has not changed for more than two decades, despite overall road user fatality numbers steadily declining.
Australian governments regularly talk about working towards target zero, a time when no person dies on our roads, however this goal will not be reached if specific work is done to reduce bike rider deaths.
We need to make sure everyone comes home from a bike ride.
Bike rider fatalities have not reduced for 20 years, despite all other road user deaths decreasing.
The solution
Separate space to ride, slower speeds, smarter vehicles and supportive legislation.
Motor vehicles are involved in 80% of crashes that result in the death of a person riding a bike.
To reduce the number of people who get killed while riding a bike we need to create more separate spaces to ride, lower speed limits in built up areas and create smarter vehicles and put in place more supportive legislation for bike riders.
Protected bike lanes that put a physical barrier between people driving cars and people on bikes stops crashes from happening.
Lower speed limits in built up areas would reduce the severity of crashes if they do happen. If a crash occurs at 30km/h, the probability of death is less than 5%, however at 60km/h the probability jumps to more than 70%.
Smarter vehicles with automated technology can override driver errors while supportive legislation such as minimum passing distance laws can help make drivers expect to see someone riding a bike whenever they are behind the steering wheel.
By making these changes we make Australia a better place to ride a bike and make sure everyone comes home.
Bicycle Network’s advocacy wheel
Implementing each of the practices in the advocacy wheel will make Australia a better place to ride a bike.
Take action
Help us reduce the number of bike rider fatalities in Australia
Contact your MP
Contact your local member of parliament and ask them to take action to reduce bike rider fatalities.
Find your MPFrom the newsrooom
Read more
Bike rider fatalities – half-year update
An update on the number of bike rider fatalities in Australia at the half-way point of 2020.
Bike rider fatalities continue to flatline
Following another year where bike riding fatalities have remained stagnant, Bicycle Network is calling for urgent action to address risks for people who ride bikes.
Fatalities report: bike riders forgotten in road safety
The number of annual bike rider fatalities in Australia has remained stagnant for 20 years despite improvements to road safety.