On average 26 cyclists a year are injured in collisions in Harrogate, analysis by the Stray Ferret has found.
As bicycle shops report record sales and commuters return to work after lockdown, the numbers give an indication of how safe it is to cycle in the town.
The UK-wide data goes back to 2005 and was published by not-for-profit organisation Cycle Streets. It includes details of every collision involving a cyclist where a police report was filed.
From 2014 to 2018, there were 128 reports of cyclists being injured with the majority involving a car. No cyclists were killed during the time period.
Skipton Road was the worst road in Harrogate for collisions involving cyclists, with 13 injuries over five years.
All the incidents in Harrogate from 2014-2018.
Caroline Linford from green group Sustainably Harrogate called the figures “alarming”.
She told the Stray Ferret that cycling in the town can feel dangerous.
She said:
“It’s easy to see why people are reluctant to cycle on Harrogate roads. Safety is a key concern.”
“Personally since Lockdown my whole family have been using bicycles as a form of exercise and to do doorstop visits with family across Harrogate. It’s become clear to me that there are some good pathways to cycle on and some very dangerous roads.
“When I’m on my bicycle I feel that pedestrians get irritated with cyclists on pavements as we travel faster than walkers and equally, car drivers often become irritated behind cyclists while on shared roads, particularly as we go a little slower as we have children with us.”
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North Yorkshire County Council has responsibility for transport in Harrogate and Ms Linford called on the council to introduce so-called “Low Traffic Neighbourhoods” in Harrogate to protect cyclists from cars.
The concept is currently being trialled in Lambeth, London where cars are discouraged from entering certain roads with bollards.
North Yorkshire County Council said they have recently won a £31m bid for the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, which will be partly spent upgrading cycling and walking facilities in Harrogate.
Don Mackenzie, executive member for road safety at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret that the safety of cyclists is one of the council’s top road safety priorities.
He said:
“Contrary to some recent sensationalist contributions on social media, there have been no fatalities involving cyclists in Harrogate town in the last 14 years. Furthermore, in spite of substantial increases in the numbers of residents choosing to cycle, the overall number of accidents involving cyclists in the county has been reducing steadily.”
