Contact:
Luis F.T.
1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.
Montreal, QC H3G 1M8
Canada
Web : http://www.montrealites.ca
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Montreal, QC --October 31, 2012 - The results of a new study reveal a substantial reduction in the risk of injuries to cyclists on streets where a separated lane bicycle infrastructure is available.
The title of the study, which has just been published in the American Journal of Public Health is called "Route Infrastructure and the Risk of Injuries to Bicyclists: A Case-Crossover Study".
The analysis, led by Professor Ted Teschke of the University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health, focused on the comparison of cycling injury risks of several route types and other aspects. The research included almost 700 hundred participants that had been injured while cycling in both Toronto and Vancouver, in Canada. When comparing the route infrastructure at each place where cycling injuries had occurred with a random control site in the same trip, Prof. Teschke and his team found exceptional results. Separated cycling lanes had the lowest risk of injury to cyclists, while major streets with parked vehicles and no bicycle infrastructure presented a very high risk. Prof. Teschke and his team were able to conclude there is a substantial lower risk of injury to cyclists both on quiet and busy streets, but with a separated bicycle lane infrastructure. The examination finalizes by recommending public health support to increase bicycle infrastructure, which would lower bicycling injury risks.
This study comes at a time when multiple cycling accidents have been reported in Montreal, which have led certain individuals to focus on imposing mandatory helmet laws on cyclists, instead of the more logical and sound expansion of the bicycle lane infrastructure of the city.
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