Norwegian study confirms ‘safety in numbers’ effect of increased cycling

A new study from the Institute of Transport Economics at the Norwegian Centre for Transport Research found that seasonal increases in cyclist numbers in Oslo led to a reduction in the risk of a conflict or near miss occurring.

The researchers conclude that the data proves a ‘safety in numbers’ effect i.e. that risks of cycling are lowered as cyclist numbers increase.

The team also compared the results for Norwegian road users to their Danish and Swedish counterparts and found that the effect can be increased or reduced by differences in infrastructure quality and traffic behaviour.

A summary of the research is available in English.