Shaping the future of cycling safety

Abstract

The global shift toward sustainable transportation has raised the profile of cycling. Yet cycling safety still faces persistent challenges (e.g., fragmented governance, inequitable infrastructure, scarce research) that are often overshadowed by motorized transport agendas. This paper presents findings from a workshop held at the 12th International Cycling Safety Conference (ICSC2024) in Imabari, Japan, which brought together an interdisciplinary group of 31 experts (researchers, practitioners, and policymakers) to explore prospective research directions for cycling safety over the next two decades. Drawing on submitted abstracts, group dialogues, and post-event reflections, we used participatory methods, speculative exercises, and collaborative discussions to conduct a thematic analysis that organized key factors into five domains: society, policy, infrastructure, vehicles, and road users. This framework supports a long-term research agenda to address the interconnected challenges of cycling safety. Key priorities include: (i) behavioral and societal studies to make cycling safer and more appealing for diverse users; (ii) development of AI-enabled safety technologies; (iii) establishment of international infrastructure standards; and (iv) tools to anticipate risks linked to emerging vehicle technologies. Additional directions involve the use of eXtended Reality (XR) for behavioral research, multimodal integration, and the ethical and privacy dimensions of data collection. Practically, the findings highlight the importance of participatory and multidisciplinary approaches for tackling real-world safety issues and guiding future research.