Cyclists And Their Relationship With The Law

There is a perception that cyclists are more likely to break the law than motorists. However, several studies have found that this is not the case. Research in Denmark and the US found that cyclists are more law-abiding than drivers, with one study finding that cyclists broke traffic laws at a rate of less than 5% compared to 66% of motorists. Another study by the University of Colorado found similar rates of infractions for both groups, with cyclists breaking the law 7-8% of the time and drivers 8-9% of the time. A study by the Florida Department of Transportation found that cyclists complied with traffic laws 88% of the time, compared to 85% for drivers. These studies suggest that the perception of cyclists as serial scofflaws is not accurate and that, in fact, cyclists are often breaking the law to improve their safety.

Cyclists are more law-abiding than drivers

There is a widely held perspective that streets are overrun with lawbreaking cyclists. However, studies have shown that cyclists are more law-abiding than drivers.

A study by the Florida Department of Transportation found that cyclists complied with traffic laws 88% of the time, while drivers complied only 85% of the time. This suggests that the average driver breaks the law more often than the average cyclist.

Another study by the Danish Road Directorate found that less than 5% of cyclists broke traffic laws while riding, compared to 66% of motorists. The study also found that the presence of cycleways significantly reduced the rate of law-breaking among cyclists, dropping from 14% on streets without cycleways to less than 5% on streets with dedicated infrastructure.

The perception that cyclists are more lawless than drivers may be due to the visibility of their actions. Law-breaking by cyclists is "easy to notice for everyone", whereas transgressions by motorists, such as speeding, are harder to spot. Additionally, cyclists may be held to a higher standard, with their actions attracting a "higher level of scorn and scrutiny".

Furthermore, when cyclists do break the law, it is often for their personal safety. Researchers have found that cyclists break the law to "save their necks", navigating around larger and faster motor vehicles. On the other hand, motorists break the law more often to save time.

Overall, the evidence suggests that cyclists are more law-abiding than drivers and that the presence of dedicated cycling infrastructure can further reduce the rate of law-breaking among cyclists.

Cyclists break the law to save their lives

While cyclists do break traffic laws, they do so primarily to protect themselves. A study published in the Journal of Transport and Land Use found that more than 70% of the time, cyclists break traffic laws out of self-preservation. The same study also found that drivers break traffic laws at an equal or higher rate than cyclists, but predominantly to save time.

The perception that cyclists are reckless and pose a danger to others is a common stereotype. However, research suggests that this is not the case. A study by the University of Colorado and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that 85% of cyclists are either entirely law-abiding or commit only minor infractions that pose minimal risk to other road users. Similarly, a Transport for London study from 2007 discovered that 84% of cyclists stopped at red traffic lights, debunking the notion that most cyclists run red lights.

The presence of dedicated cycling infrastructure significantly impacts the rate of law-breaking among cyclists. A Danish study found that less than 5% of cyclists broke traffic rules on roads with cycleways, while this figure rose to 14% on streets without designated lanes. These findings highlight the importance of investing in cycling infrastructure to enhance road safety and reduce law-breaking among cyclists.

The negative portrayal of cyclists in the media contributes to the perception that they are a "pervasive problem." This stereotype of the "scofflaw cyclist" often overlooks the fact that cyclists feel like an afterthought in a transport system dominated by cars. As a result, they sometimes have to make illegal choices to ensure their safety.

Overall, while cyclists do break the law, it is often done to save their lives rather than out of recklessness or disregard for the law.

Motorists break the law to save time

The study, which was published in the Journal of Transport and Land Use, found that 18,000 participants admitted to some form of lawbreaking, with drivers and pedestrians doing so mostly to save time, while cyclists did so out of concern for their personal safety. The researchers concluded that cyclists are "rational individuals trying to function safely and efficiently, even if it means they are doing so illegally, given the social norms of where they live and the transportation system put in front of them".

Another study, conducted in 2019 by the Danish government, observed more than 28,000 cyclists with cameras set up at intersections. It found that just 4.9% of cyclists broke traffic laws when bike paths were present, while 14% of cyclists broke laws when bike paths were not present. In comparison, a previous study by the Danish Road Directorate found that 66% of drivers broke traffic laws, most often by speeding.

The perception that cyclists are more prone to breaking the law is further challenged by a Transport for London study, which found that 84% of cyclists stopped at red traffic lights. Similarly, a Florida study found that cyclists were slightly more compliant with traffic laws than drivers, with cyclists complying with the law 88% of the time during the day and 87% of the time after dark, compared to 85% for drivers.

These studies suggest that the availability of safe and dedicated cycling infrastructure plays a significant role in reducing traffic violations by cyclists. As Micah Ling writes in Bicycling, "the true solution for safer transportation is infrastructure. When cyclists have safe, protected bike paths and infrastructure away from motorists, everyone stays safer".

Cyclists' law-breaking is more noticeable

While it is often perceived that cyclists are more prone to breaking the law, research suggests that this is not the case. In fact, studies have shown that cyclists are more law-abiding than drivers, with one study finding that cyclists broke traffic laws at a much lower rate than drivers. This is likely because cyclists are more visible and their law-breaking is, therefore, more noticeable to other road users.

A study out of Denmark, a country known for its bike-friendly culture, found that on streets with dedicated cycleways, less than 5% of cyclists broke traffic rules, while 66% of drivers were found to regularly break traffic laws. This is supported by a study from the University of Colorado, which found similar rates of infraction for both groups, with 8-9% for drivers and 7-8% for cyclists.

The perception that cyclists are more likely to break the law may be due to the fact that their infractions are more visible to other road users. As the Danish Cycling Embassy points out, law-breaking by cyclists is "easy to notice for everyone", whereas transgressions by motorists, such as speeding, are harder to spot. This visibility may also contribute to the higher level of scorn and scrutiny that cyclists face when they break the law.

The reasons for breaking the law also differ between cyclists and motorists. While motorists break road rules primarily to save time, cyclists do so out of concern for their personal safety. Cyclists often feel like an afterthought in a transportation system dominated by cars and make rational choices to function safely and efficiently, even if it means breaking the law. This is supported by a study by US researchers Wesley E. Marshall, Daniel Piatkowski, and Aaron Johnson, who found that the "overwhelming majority of bicyclists are not reckless" and that they mostly break laws in situations where little harm would come to themselves or others.

In conclusion, while cyclists' law-breaking may be more noticeable, it is important to recognize that they are not more prone to breaking the law than other road users. In fact, studies suggest that they are more law-abiding than drivers and that their reasons for breaking the law are often rooted in a desire to stay safe on the roads.

Cyclists' law-breaking is more scrutinised

Several studies have found that cyclists are more law-abiding than motorists, breaking traffic laws at a lower rate. However, cyclists' law-breaking tends to attract more scrutiny and criticism from the public and the media. This may be because, on the road, cyclists are more vulnerable than motorists and are therefore expected to be more cautious.

For example, a Danish study found that less than 5% of cyclists broke traffic rules on roads with dedicated cycleways, and 14% on roads without them. In contrast, 66% of Danish drivers regularly broke traffic laws, most often by speeding. Another study from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) found that cyclists comply with traffic laws 88% of the time, compared to 85% for drivers.

The higher level of scrutiny on cyclists' law-breaking may be due to the perception that they are more reckless and pose a danger to other road users. This perception is often portrayed in the popular press and can influence public opinion. However, studies have shown that cyclists break the law primarily to improve their visibility and protect themselves from larger, faster, and more lethal motor vehicles.

The visibility of cyclists' law-breaking may also contribute to the scrutiny they receive. As Thomas McCarey of the National Motorists Association noted, law-breaking by cyclists is "easy to notice", while transgressions by motorists, such as speeding, can be harder to spot. This may create the perception that cyclists break the law more often, even though the data suggests otherwise.

Furthermore, cultural norms may play a role in the public's perception of cyclists as lawbreakers. As Randy LoBasso, communications manager for the Bike Coalition, observed, there is a perception that cyclists break the law at a much higher rate than motorists. However, he attributed this perception to cultural norms surrounding driving, where breaking the speed limit or rolling through stop signs is often considered acceptable.

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