Influence of factors at the infrastructure on (single) accidents of cyclists

Every year, tens of thousands of accidents involving cyclists occur in Germany. In 2019 alone, around 100,000 such accidents were recorded by the police. Particularly striking: about every fifth accident was a so-called single-party bicycle crash – meaning no other persons were involved.

However, the actual figure is likely to be significantly higher, as many of these accidents are never reported at all. Experts therefore assume a considerable number of unreported cases.

While riding errors play a role, international studies show that the quality of the infrastructure also has a major influence. Poor cycle paths, confusing traffic routings, or structural defects can significantly increase the risk of accidents.

This is precisely where our project comes in: for the first time, we are systematically investigating the role that infrastructure plays in bicycle accidents in Germany. Our goal is to identify typical problem areas and develop concrete solutions to make cycling safer.