Dr Rachel Aldred has just published her latest blog. In which she states:
Dr Aldred doesn't tell us how many, nor which years her comment refers to. The data for years 2000 to 2015 is published. 2016 data is not.
These casualty figures are set against a backdrop of a significant growth in the population - 70,000 or 35%, additional residents since 2001 and a significant rise in the popularity of cycling.
The graph below shows cycle and pedestrian fatalities since 2000.
"Each year, Hackney consistently has more cyclist than pedestrian casualties."But is this true?
Dr Aldred doesn't tell us how many, nor which years her comment refers to. The data for years 2000 to 2015 is published. 2016 data is not.
These casualty figures are set against a backdrop of a significant growth in the population - 70,000 or 35%, additional residents since 2001 and a significant rise in the popularity of cycling.
The graph below shows cycle and pedestrian fatalities since 2000.
The second graph shows cycle and pedestrian serious injuries since 2000.
And finally the graph of cycle and pedestrian slight injuries, those not needing hospital treatment.
From these graphs it is clear that Dr Aldred's comment that Hackney consistently has more cycling than pedestrian casualties isn't true.
It is even less the case if one does as cycle campaigners suggest and one were able to consider casualties per mile cycled, because there is much more cycling now than there was in 2000.
The data show that:
- between 2000 and 2015 there were 17 cycle fatalities compared to 47 pedestrian fatalities;
- there were 379 serious cycle injuries compared to 706 pedestrian serious injuries between 2000 and 2015, and that the annual figure is fairly stable despite the large growth of cycling in Hackney;
- that cycle collisions resulting in a minor injury are increasing as cycling becomes more popular in Hackney. There is also an upward trend in pedestrian collisions resulting in a minor injury.
Every injury is a personal tragedy. But If one were interested in the truth, rather than being determined to frame cycling as a dangerous activity, one would say that Hackney council has been successful in its borough-wide approach to cycle and pedestrian road safety since 2000. It is a testament to all those involved and should not be undermined. The rate of cycle fatalities and serious injuries is reducing. Slight injuries to cyclists are increasing, but below the rate of increase in cycling.
For the record he graph below shows Hackney killed and serious injuries for all modes on Hackney's streets and in total.
For the record he graph below shows Hackney killed and serious injuries for all modes on Hackney's streets and in total.
