In an effort to make cycling safer, Hunter New England Health is leading a project that collects data on cycling injuries and shares it with local councils to use in the development of cycling infrastructure.
The Safer Cycle Ways project collects de-identified information about preventable aspects of cycling injuries by interviewing people who have been admitted to hospital after a cycling accident on either a cycleway, footpath or road.
Currently, local governments responsible for making roads, cycleways and footpaths receive little feedback following a cycling accident, as they’re not often reported to police. Patient feedback could provide important information about fences, rails or the surface of roads or cycleways that may have impacted their crash or injuries.
Hunter New England Health’s project lead and PhD researcher at the University of Newcastle, Simon Davidson said more than 12,000 Australians are hospitalised each year as a result of injuries sustained in a cycling accident.
With firsthand experience having been hit himself by an opening car door while cycling, Simon recognises people often don’t feel safe riding as a mode of transport and hopes the District’s Safer Cycle Ways project goes towards changing attitudes.
“People are avoiding cycling to work because they don’t feel safe and this is leading to increased traffic, parking issues and less physical activity,” Simon said.
Kate King, a trauma clinical nurse consultant at the John Hunter Hospital and project lead said to encourage greater participation in cycling – notwithstanding the health and environmental benefits, would require improvements to make it as safe as possible.
“The impact of what people perceive as a simple bike accident can be very serious, with long-lasting effects including chronic pain, decreased capacity to work or undertake everyday activities including being physically active as well as mental health issues related to fear and anxiety following the accident,” Kate said.
“Prevention is the best cure for trauma,” Kate said.
Seventy two year old John Lean was interviewed for the project after he slid on railway lines in wet weather, breaking his pelvis.
“Anything that leads to any sort of improved safety is worthwhile participating in,” he said.
“Some hazards can be easily fixed with small changes in infrastructure such as rubber grips,” John said.
The Safer Cycle Ways project supports the District’s sustainability strategy to become carbon and waste neutral by 2030. One its core tenets is to reduce carbon emissions by 10 per cent each year by encouraging alternate modes of transport, including ride-to-work strategies, and reducing staff business travel through the use of technology such as virtual care.
The project is a collaboration between the District’s trauma service and sustainability team in partnership with Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Councils.
To participate in the research, email: hnelhd-sustainablehealthcare2030@health.nsw.gov.au
