'A risky experiment': Experts warn of more dangerous accidents with proposal from the Cyclists' Federation

There is often congestion on the cycle paths in the big cities, where people with different temperaments on bikes, both with and without electric assistance, can create dangerous situations.

But it is a bad idea to solve the problem by letting fast cyclists ride out among the cars.

On the contrary, it could become more dangerous to take to the bike, according to two experts in traffic and accidents, after the Danish Cyclists' Federation proposed that all users over the age of 15 should be allowed to choose whether to cycle on the cycle path or the road when cycling within city limits.

> "You risk that the accident risk for cyclists increases"

> Otto Anker Nielsen

- Letting the fast bikes ride on the roads would be quite a risky experiment, where you risk increasing the accident risk for them – even if car speeds are reduced, says Otto Anker Nielsen, who is a professor of transport modelling at DTU.

The Danish Cyclists' Federation also proposes reducing the speed limit for motorists in urban zones to 30 kilometres per hour. But that will not make much of a difference, he believes.

- Accidents primarily happen at intersections, and since there is also heavy congestion on the road network, the speed reduction for cars matters less than it might seem, he says.

The DTU professor points out that it could nevertheless reduce the share of accidents for those cyclists who remain on the paths. But he believes the right solution is instead to widen the cycle paths.

Although more and more different types of bikes that can go fast on electric power are appearing, most are still old-fashioned pedal cycles, the Danish Cyclists' Federation reports. (Photo: © Sofie Mathiassen, Ritzau Scanpix)

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Acknowledges the problems on cycle paths

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In its proposal – which was first published in an interview with Jyllands-Posten – the Danish Cyclists' Federation refers to the fact that many cyclists feel too unsafe to use cycle paths in the big cities, and that this causes some to abandon the bike.

- If you are used to cycling fast and want to consider your fellow road users, then you cannot cycle fast on the cycle path. Then you can do it on the roadway, says the chairperson of the Danish Cyclists' Federation, Jens Peter Hansen, to DR.

At the same time, there has been an increase in bicycle accidents involving e-bikes in recent years.

Today, the rules are such that cyclists, according to traffic law, must as a rule use the cycle path if one exists, and in such places they are therefore not allowed to choose to ride on the carriageway instead.

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Accidents with fast bikes

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According to the Danish Road Directorate, 38 percent of all those who were killed or injured in traffic last year were on cycle paths.

In 2018, 256 e-bike users were treated at hospital after an accident. In 2023, the figures had risen to 1,016 injured e-bike users.

Sources: Danish Road Directorate and University of Southern Denmark.

Tanja Osmann Madsen, who researches bicycle traffic and traffic safety at Aalborg University, agrees that there are problems on cycle paths today.

- There is a big difference in how fast the bikes travel, and that is a safety challenge. We know that many accidents happen where cyclists run into each other on the cycle paths, she says.

But by making it possible to cycle out among motorists, it could lead to more serious accidents than those occurring on the cycle path, because hard road users like motorists cause greater harm when meeting cyclists than when bikes collide with each other, she explains.

> "It is important that we do not create new problems in the attempt to create

> more space"

> Transport Minister Signe Munk (SF)

- The larger the opponent and the faster they travel, the more serious it becomes, she says, and refers to the fact that it would therefore make a difference if cars drove 30 instead of 50 kilometres per hour.

- But one could also imagine, if it only applies to some roads, that it creates uncertainty about where cyclists are and are not allowed to ride on the road. That could cause some to ride out even though they are not actually allowed to, says Tanja Osmann Madsen.

Instead, she suggests that one could consider letting the so-called 'speed pedelec' bikes, which can travel at 45 kilometres per hour like a moped, ride on the roads.

Transport Minister Signe Munk (SF) says in a written response to the Danish Cyclists' Federation's proposal that space on the cycle paths is tight, especially in the cities.

- But there are no simple solutions, and it is important that we do not create new problems in the attempt to create more space, it reads.

Transport Minister Signe Munk from SF warns against simple solutions to the problem (Archive photo). (Photo: © Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix) Read also: The Netherlands tests speed limits on cycle paths: At home, something must also be done, says the Danish Cyclists' Federation ( https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/holland-tester-fartgraenser-paa-cykelstier-herhjemme-skal-der-ogsaa-goeres-noget-mener )

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Danish Cyclists' Federation: Not a safety issue to cycle on the roads

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The chairperson of the Danish Cyclists' Federation, Jens Peter Hansen, says, like Otto Anker Nielsen, that most accidents between motorists and cyclists happen at traffic lights.

- And it typically happens because motorists forget the cyclists on the cycle path, and therefore many places have introduced shortened cycle paths where cars and cyclists mix before they reach an intersection, he says.

But doesn't that just move the safety problem out onto the roads?

- I do not believe there is any safety issue in cycling on the roads, says Jens Peter Hansen.

- Motorists feel they lose a bit of space. Yes, but it is a question of what society wants. Do you want to ensure more space for cyclists and make the cycle paths safe? Or do you want to ensure at all costs that motorists can travel unhindered?

Isn't it more unsafe to mix soft and hard road users out on the road?

- Yes, it is unsafe, but safety and security can be two different things. It is very safe to be on the cycle path, and many would feel unsafe out on the road. But in terms of safety, it makes no difference, says Jens Peter Hansen.

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