Cyclist safety and infrastructure

Taken as a whole, the most significant infrastructure-related risk factors for cyclists

in single vehicle incidents on highways appear to be;

• slippery road (due to weather), and
• poor or defective road surface 

For multi-vehicle collisions the infrastructure risk factors appear to be;

• posted speed limits, and
• encounters with other road users at junctions.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/infrastructure-and-cyclist-safety

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/infrastructure-and-cyclist-safety/infrastructure-and-cyclist-safety.pdf

Of all interventions to increase cycle safety, the greatest benefits come from reducing motor vehicle speeds. Interventions that achieve this are also likely to result in casualty reductions for all classes of road user. This may be achieved by a variety of methods, including physical traffic calming; urban design that changes the appearance and pedestrian use of a street; and, possibly, the wider use of 20 mph speed limits.

Most cyclist injuries in multi-vehicle collisions take place at junctions. Reducing the speed of traffic through junctions appears to be an effective approach to reducing cycle casualties, and physical calming methods are a reliable means of achieving such a reduction.