In July, 29 cyclists were killed on the roads of France. This is the most terrible result in July for ten years. While in the figures published this Thursday by road safety the number of deaths among motorists or pedestrians decreases, the situation of followers of the little queen is worrying.
“These data unfortunately confirm a general trend: mortality all vehicles combined is decreasing while the number of cyclists killed increases by 2.7% each year. Not only is the mortality of cyclists increasing, but it is also increasing more and more quickly, ”insists Marie Gautier-Melleray, the interministerial delegate for road safety. Last year was particularly deadly, up 6.9% compared to 2018. This Wednesday again, a cyclist died in Paris after being hit by a driver fleeing a police check.
The "coronapistes", these tracks built at the end of confinement in many cities of France to encourage and secure the use of the bicycle, have therefore served no purpose? The question is debated among cycling associations.
“It's worse than that, denounces Teodoro Bartuccio, the president of the association My bike is a life. We wanted to build tracks too quickly without consulting all road users, cyclists, motorists, motorized two-wheelers. Which created real tensions. Some scooters or motorists do anything, they use these lanes endangering cyclists! "
A priori, these reserved routes, especially when they are equipped with low walls ensure the safety of the bikes until they stop. At crossings, the handlebars fade out of their lane to turn and risk colliding with cars, trucks, etc. In 2019, 51% of cyclists in urban areas killed were in intersections ...
"Lots and lots more bikes than usual"
Olivier Schneider, president of the Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB), defends these installations: “Of course each death is one too many deaths, but there are many, many, many more bikes than usual, the number of fatalities increases less quickly than the number of cyclists. In relation to the individual risk and related to the number of kilometers traveled, in reality the risk decreases, ”he puts into perspective.
After the winter strikes, to avoid resuming public transport or for environmental reasons, the biclous are more and more numerous (+ 31% in 2019 compared to 2018). So, we should not destroy coronapists as was done in Marseille or Argenteuil and throw the baby out with the bathwater, says Olivier Schneider: “On the contrary, we must increase efforts to further develop infrastructure. "
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Be that as it may, road safety endeavors to reduce the risk for these vulnerable users, without airbag or bodywork. The interministerial delegate warns “the increase in cyclist mortality is a real cause for concern”. It therefore promises to multiply specific preventive actions, on the Tour de France to begin with.