Road Safety Management and Cyclists’ Behaviours: Observational Study in Paris, London, Milan and Gdańsk

The EU has set itself a 50% reduction target for road deaths – and, for the first time, also serious injuries – by 2030. An estimated 19 800 people were killed in road crashes in 2021. Cyclists constitute the only road user group in the EU where the number of fatalities has not declined since 2010. Thus, more research in this area is required, and this article provides new insights into safety management. The aim of this study is to examine road safety statistics and compere them to real road user behaviours. Non-obvious results can provide new insight for policy makers/authorities and can be used in urban mobility management/road safety management. Methodology in this paper is based on qualitative method, observational study, which was conducted in three cities. Furthermore, in-depth literature review was carried out to examine what studies have been done on road safety. Despite several existing transport observational studies of cyclists behaviour, there is a need for comprehensive studies that identify the factors that may influence road safety users. Crucial finding is the large distinction in cycling safety in studied cities. The level of safety differed, and different behaviours of road users were also observed.