Cycling, safety, health and policy – necessary linkages, suggested approaches

Many countries are promoting cycling as a way to improve health and quality of life while reducing the negative impacts of transport in terms of congestion and pollution. Safety, however, is a key concern since cyclists are relatively unprotected road users. This chapter addresses the key issues relating to cycling safety and links them to a greater discussion of health, safety and cycling. The deleterious impact of crashes on cyclists’ health is only one part of the health impacts of cycling – and it is often overvalued in policy discussions. This chapter examines the full range of health impacts and discusses critical elements necessary for cycling policy evaluation. It also suggests a way forward for framing cycling and road safety policy such that health benefits are maximised.