Contraflow Cycling Does Not Increase Crash Rates

Contraflow cycling on one-way streets does not increase crash rates, researchers have discovered.

Method & Results

Robin Lovelace of the Institute for Transport Studies at Leeds University looked at road segments in London, together with two colleagues.

They focused on 508 segments where contraflow cycling was introduced, with a total road length of 64.4km. On 10 of the segments, contraflow cycling was later removed.

The researchers studied DfT data for crashes on these segments between 1998 and 2019, and adjusted the figures to account for the increase in cycling in London over that period.

Total crashes were around 9 per 100 years of exposure to each segment. The characteristics of crashes pre- and post-contraflow cycling were very similar. Most crashes occurred in rush hour on weekdays.

There was little difference in the number of crashes when cycling with or against traffic flow. The biggest risk to pedal cyclists is when turning (described as ‘direction not compatible’).

When a two-way road became one way with contraflow cycling, crash rates reduced by one third.

Within 10m of a junction or roundabout, crash rates double.

Implications for Policy

In the UK contraflow cycling is often controversial, with public opposition to people cycling the ‘wrong way’ down one way streets sometimes resulting in proposed schemes being cancelled. That is unfortunate given the facts revealed by this research.

Allowing contraflow cycling increases the density of cycle networks in a low-cost way without increasing crashes. It improves the cycling experience and increases the amount of cycling.

The researchers recommend that all UK one-way streets should allow contraflow cycling unless there are compelling reasons specific to a street not to allow this.

‘We call on national governments to consider implementing legislative change making it mandatory for one-way streets to be two-way for pedal cyclists unless there are exceptional conditions. Such laws have been introduced in Belgium. More broadly, large scale investment in contraflows will strengthen cycling networks and routes by not only improving coherence, directness, attractiveness and comfort but also their safety, increasing their level of compliance with design guidance.’

5.1 Implications for policy and future research

Since junctions increase the risk of crashes, safe junction design should be a priority.