Health and transport safety are knit close together. There is the reactive care needed to treat people following collisions which brings a cost to the NHS and economy. There is also the proactive approach of creating a transport system that supports public health and addresses health inequalities, with increased physical activity and improved air quality.
This month PACTS joined Minister Simon Lightwood, Minister Lilian Greenwood, Chris Boardman, National Active Travel Commissioner, and Sir Christopher Whitty, Chief Medical Adviser to the UK Government at the first roundtable linking transport and the Government’s health mission. Other PACTS members, CyclingUK and Living Streets were at the table too.
We are pleased to highlight the work of another PACTS member, the The Bikeability Trust, promoting their research conducted by TRL which shows that English local authorities with higher levels of Bikeability training are experiencing lower rates of serious road injuries and fatalities. Their work also means there are now millions of children who have been introduced to the wide benefits of cycling.
In this guest article, Emily Cherry, Chief Executive of the Bikeability Trust, explores the relationship between education, safer roads, and active travel, while making a compelling case for long-term investment in cycle training and supportive infrastructure
The drive for healthier, greener travel is about getting more people moving—by walking, wheeling, and making active journeys a part of everyday life. For this vision to succeed, it must go hand in hand with creating safer roads for all users. The most recent government statistics deliver promising news that killed and seriously injured (KSI) incidences for pedal cyclists are decreasing, yet cyclists are still overrepresented in casualty statistics.
Local KSI data in England provides valuable insights into creating safer roads. A recent study found that higher traffic and deprivation levels in local authorities were associated to higher KSIs, with urban areas experiencing higher rates than rural ones. Local authorities with higher Bikeability cycle training rates consistently see lower levels of KSIs. These insights begin to paint a picture of how safety varies nationally and highlight local contextual factors.
Educational interventions are a critical piece of the puzzle to improving road safety. They can have immediate positive impacts on people’s safe travel practices. A key example of this is cycle training. Cycle training supports the development of practical cycling skills, safe use of roads, and confident navigation of traffic, aligned with the Highway Code. Evidence on the national cycle training programme Bikeability has shown the impact on young riders: an immediate and sustained higher hazard awareness, and parental confidence in their child’s ability to communicate intentions, perform good observations and judge risks on the road.
Cycling experience is linked to safer road use more broadly. Research shows experienced cyclists demonstrate safer behaviours, whether cycling or driving. Similarly, educating drivers and cyclists to understand each other’s perspectives strengthens road rule understanding and fosters empathy between all road users.
This evidence highlights that road safety would greatly improve if everyone had access to cycle training and experience. Achieving this requires long-term government funding and complimentary supportive measures like traffic calming and School Streets that together promote active travel.
The Bikeability Trust, is dedicated to promoting healthier, greener travel by making cycling an accessible and safe choice for all. . Bikeability, the Department for Transport-funded cycle training programme for children, plays a crucial role in equipping the next generation with essential cycling skills.
