New data uncovered by cycling injury specialists Claims.co.uk saw Greater Manchester emerge as the most dangerous region in the UK for cyclists, showing that the new plans for a 75 mile cycling network are needed.
Cyclists in Greater Manchester are more likely to be hit by cars than anywhere else in the UK, according to the figures. This was closely followed by Humberside, West Midlands and Avon and Somerset.
In the last year alone, FOI requests revealed that Greater Manchester police were called out to 433 incidents where cyclists became injured by cars whilst on the road. This was two times higher than the national average, and a steep increase from 332 incidents in 2016 and 363 in 2015.
Across the country, cyclists remain at serious risk of injury and even death – nationally, 2017 saw UK police attend over 5,340 incidents where cyclist had been injured after being hit by cars.
A report by Department for Transport, which analysed cycling injuries between 2011- 2016, estimates that 62 cyclists are injured on the roads every week, with an average of two of those being fatal. In 2017, Greater Manchester Police saw 3 cyclist deaths as a result of a car collision.
Recent plans reported by Marketing Stockport are discussing the introduction of a 75 mile cycling network with over 10,000 routes planned for cyclists in the region over the next ten years.
National cycling charity Cycling UK often highlight the dangers that UK roads present to cyclists.
Duncan Dollimore, Head of Campaigns at Cycling UK, said:
“If we want to improve road safety for all of our most vulnerable road users, it would be better to focus on measures to reduce danger from the largest vehicles and design roads and streets which take their needs into account.
To help with this, Cycling UK have just responded to the Government’s Cycling and Walking safety review (CWIS), with our solutions to achieve safer roads and junctions, safer road users, safer speeds and safer vehicles to make both cycling and walking the natural choice for short journeys.”
To see how Manchester compares to the rest of the UK, go to www.claims.co.uk/worst-cycling-regions