Dutch still leading the way when it comes to cycling

6 comments
By Richard Peace | Sunday, Apr 12, 2009 9.00am

Cyclists in the Netherlands are the least likely to die while cycling and workers there who cycle are less likely to take days off sick.

These are just two of the myriad findings of the Dutch government's annual report on the state of cycling in the country.

Cycling in the Netherlands includes a 'league table' of European countries based on the percentage of all trips taken by bike. Even though the figures come from internet sources and are a couple of years old, it still makes compelling reading.

Again, the Dutch lead the way with a national average of 26 percent of all trips made by bike. In the top cities, that rises to 35-40 percent.

Languishing in last place is... yes, the UK, with a lowly national average of two percent of trips made by bike. The report does point out that places like Hull, York, Oxford and Cambridge are notable exceptions.

Perhaps the most startling graph in Cycling in the Netherlands is the one showing the number of cyclists killed per 100 million kilometres.

The Dutch have the lowest rate, only just below other Northern European countries such as Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden, which hover around two deaths per million kilometres cycled.

The most dangerous European country for cyclists appears to be Italy, where the comparable figure is 11. Great Britain has a mid-table position at around six deaths per million kilometres cycled.

So, do the Netherlands lead the way in all aspects of cycling. No, the Dutch are refreshingly honest in confessing to being Euro-leaders in bike theft.

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User Comments

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  • Well, I cycle (almost) everywhere.

    But, 6 deaths per million Km? That's terrible. I was only planning on dieing once in my lifetime. Or, is reincarnation taken into account?

  • I would etsimate that millions of adults own bikes in this country but rarely if ever use them.

    Lifestyle, laziness and the weather are reasons why.

    But also the fact that our roads -particularly in the cities are so non bike friendly- and designed purely for the car.

    And some days when you use your bike to get to work you realise that cars and bikes just do not mix.

  • Until design of roads, including the necessary the assessment and redesign of roads, takes into account cycling and the need of cyclists to get about the same way motorists are provided for, the figures in the UK won't budge much.

    An example is found in the signs directing cyclists on the A31 along the Hogs Back. This is a heavily used dual carriageway with a speed limit going from 60mph out of Guildford to 70mph towards Farnham. With no hard shoulder whatsoever and therefore having to share the traffic lane with said heavy traffic, any cyclist looking to use this road may as well have their affairs in order, as it would be suicide to cycle along it.

    Yet someone in some highways department thinks it is useful as a cycle route enough to waste money on signage....? Obviously anyone wanting to travel this route would use the parallel road a bit further downslope, it is however symptomic of the approach taken, that legal theory that cyclists are vehicles and therefore OK to share roadspace with 20+ tonne articulated lorries is fine in practice.

    Until such stupidity on the part of road designers and the politicians who fund them and set policy is changed, not much will change in terms of cycling figures, outside the growth of cycling over short distances in town centres.

  • Hi

    I live in the Netherlands and would like to add the following remarks if i may, to your statistics. The sentences handed down to other motorists who kill or seriously injure cyclists on the roads are amongst the most lenient anywhere in the world. If a cyclist gets killed in the Netherlands by a drunk driver, hit and run or any person displaying gross negligence on the roads they only get ,at most a suspended jail. sentence.So while it,s reassuring to know that the Netherlands is fairly safe compared to other countries, You cannot expect any justice at all if one of your loved ones is killed on the road. Unless you call 6 months suspended jail sentence and 300 quid fine a sufficient punishment.

    Ademort

  • Ademort

    If your still out there.

    The UK is just as bad.6 months sounds good. Locally a GP run over an elederly cyclist on a elderly bike. Weak lights, not visible by a car car exceeding speed limit. We know the guy was exceeding speed limit as the car behind said so. They also noted the Doctor did not stop( let alone slow down at roundabout - it was dark, - the Highway code would have you stop). The Doctor had a 6 points slapped on his licence. That is all.

    An MP run over a major in the army pulling put from Parliament. Nothing. No bad press. Nothing.

    The UK, is a place to have your wits about you. Do not expect the police to help. My experience in general is that they will fine you for breaking the law to while they and you know that it was a safer to what was done, just that the law says otherwise.

    The are proabably fewer deaths simple as those that take on the orads in the UK, know what they are doing, are paranoid, in general not drunk or too worse for wear.

    Sorry but NL is safe.

  • What you don't say there, is that places like Hull, York, Oxford and Cambridge are like the Netherlands; pancake flat. The majority of "bike trips" are made by people going from A to B, and using the bike as a mode of transport becae it is easier, cheaper and in many cases faster than another mode - they aren't cycling for leisure or for fun, so they want it to be easy to do. Living in a flat area does make it easier for people to cycle and will encourage more novices. Of course, the Netherlands example of a generally more positive attitude towards cycling in the UK and people being encouraged to view cycling as a safe activity, would help much more than having a flat road.....

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