Changing London’s cycling infrastructure will improve safety

London and other cities in Britain could be made a safer for cyclists finds a study by researchers at UCL and Loughborough University. The report commissioned by Transport for London (TfL), makes recommendations which could be implemented using £913 million earmarked by London's Mayor Boris Johnson to improve cycle safety in the capital and increase the number of cyclists four-fold by 2026, say the scientists behind the study. The main finding is that collisions could be reduced by London emulating the 'best international practise in cycle infrastructure' in cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, where up to 40% of journeys are made on bicycles. The team says this would reduce the direct conflict cyclists face with buses, construction vehicles and HGVs and would make London much safer for cyclists. Other recommendations include reducing HGV movements during commuting hours, educating cyclists not to pass to the left of HGVs and retro-fitting side-guards and mirrors that remove blind spots to HGVs. The report was carried out to support the development of TfL's updated Cycle Safety Action Plan as casualties among cyclists increased by 59% between 2000 and 2012 with a three-fold increase in the number of cyclists, while total road casualties fell by 51%. The in-depth study examined 53 of the 79 fatal and life threatening collisions involving cyclists in the time period to understand the factors which led to the accidents.