St Cross College, Oxford

Cycling is fundamentally safe, yet fear of cycling is one of the largest barriers to cycling. When a car has an accident, it is no longer news but when a cyclist is involved in an accident, it is an unusual event and gets coverage. Since Oxford has large numbers of cycles on the road, drivers are generally aware of their presence and the accident rate, per cyclist, is very low. By following some simple procedures and avoiding obviously risky behavior, you can massively reduce your chances of having an accident.

These procedures are listed in their approximate order of importance:

• Don't cycle at night without lights. Not only is it illegal (and will cost you around £50) but lights can save your life.
• Don't carry shopping bags on your handlebars, use a rucksack, panniers, or basket to carry your load.
• Cycle well out into the road, if necessary, to feel safe. According to the British Government's guidelines for cyclists, it is legal to ride outside of marked cycle lanes and in the middle of the lane, if necessary, to ride safely. Do not feel like you are holding up traffic because in Oxford, a cyclist will normally beat a car between any two points and can accelerate at the same pace (or faster) when necessary.
• Don't pass lorries (trucks) and buses on the inside, unless necessary. Large vehicles have a large turning circle and large blindspots, both of which put cyclists in danger. It is safer to pass a bus, especially a stopped bus, on the right side - it is still possible for them to pull out without seeing you but then you are not trapped next to the kerb.
• Maintain your bike, especially your brakes. In Oxford traffic, which is normally 30 mph or slower, with proper attention and well-maintained brakes, you should be able to avoid most accidents.
• Pick a sensible route. As a cyclist, there are cycle routes and shortcuts that are not only faster but avoid busier stretches of road. If you need route advice, consult a map.
• Get trained. Most accidents happen in the early days of riding and the easiest way to leapfrog that period is to get on-road cycle training. The Oxford Cycle Workshop has two fully-trained instructors that offer on-road cycle training.

Many will notice that wearing a helmet is not mentioned in the list of safety procedures, this is because it is a matter of personal choice. Despite heated arguments on both sides, there is no quantitative evidence that helmets improve health. To highlight the controversy, the British Medical Journal has published articles stating that helmets reduce the overall health of the nation and provide "only limited head protection", while the British Medical Association recommends the use of a helmet and is in favor of laws that make it compulsory. In short, this leaves the issue of helmet use as a personal choice, but it is important that one does not see the use of a helmet as a substitution for other safety procedures.

Finally, one has to ask whether it is safer to not cycle? In the UK, over 100,000 people are killed by coronary heart disease every year and over 40,000 die in vehicular accidents every year. Not only does regular cycling improve ones health, but the British Medical Association estimates that the health benefits of cycling outweighs the danger by a ratio of 20 to 1.