Cycling Safety in Stockholm: War Against Cars
Local newspapers recently reported increased accidents between drivers and cyclists in Stockholm. The article advised wearing helmets, using lights, staying on the right side of the road, and letting cars go first at crossings. However, the article misses the main point entirely. Why?
It talks about general tips for being more visible and following the rules on the road. Don’t get me wrong; a responsible cyclist should have lights on their bike and follow traffic lights. But just following those rules doesn’t address the real danger here. Similar to cyclists, pedestrians are also vulnerable road users. How do you see the kid from this SUV? The kid will be even shorter while riding a bike! There are more significant issues that the article didn’t talk about.
This is the original article translated into English:
Mitt i’s article (1)
Are the mistakes of some vehicles more lethal than others?
Interestingly, the article's author didn’t even do light research to see that cars are causing the most lethal crashes.
Cycling in Canada vs. in the Netherlands (2,3)
Canada and some USA states require helmets, while the Netherlands doesn’t. Which country do you think has fewer cycling fatalities?
The graph shows several countries, including Sweden, France, and the UK. None of these additional countries have helmet laws. This suggests no significant link exists between cyclist fatalities and helmet laws. In reality, helmet laws may serve as a temporary solution for inadequate infrastructure and the prevalence of SUVs. (4)
I still recommend having a bike helmet if you live in Sweden and want to bike in winter since the infrastructure is not cleaned properly.
Oversized Vehicles: An Increased Risk in Urban Environments
Let me clarify: the rise in crashes between cars and cyclists didn't happen by chance. I avoid using the term "accidents" because an accident suggests something unfortunate that couldn’t have been avoided. But we know how to prevent these situations. (5)
The increase in crashes is mainly because cars are getting bigger, especially SUVs and pickup trucks. These vehicles are larger and heavier than regular cars and have poorer visibility, making them much more dangerous in crowded urban areas.
Even a small car like the Mini Cooper grew drastically in size! (6)
For example, pickup trucks can cause more severe injuries in collisions because they are taller and more likely to hit vital organs in a crash.
A Ford pickup truck is 75% larger! (6)
Look how small the Range Rover from the beginning of the article looks compared to a GMC pick-up truck! (7)
If you really need a bigger car, please go for a sedan instead of a SUV
Larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks need bigger parking spaces, use more energy, and cause roads to wear out faster because they are heavy. In rich countries like Sweden, many people choose electric cars because they think they are better for the environment.
‘But we do know what happened in Sweden, where aggressive government subsidies have led to the world’s highest per-capita sales of ‘clean’ cars. The results are in, and shockingly, greenhouse gas emissions from Sweden’s transportation sector are up.’ (8)
While electric cars use cleaner energy, their added weight still accelerates road deterioration. Their weight also poses more significant risks to people walking and biking.
A parked pickup truck vs regular cars. Do you think cities that are growing in population and need more public space can afford to have humongous cars? (9)
SUVs are alarmingly one of the biggest polluters on the planet. I recommend that you take a look at the Not Just Bikes video on this topic (10)
Why SUVs Are Especially Dangerous for Kids
SUVs and pickup trucks pose an even greater danger to children. Because SUVs and trucks are so tall, drivers can’t always see kids nearby, especially when the kids are standing or crossing the street. This makes everyday things like walking to school or riding a bike much more dangerous for kids. If a big vehicle hits a child, the child is more likely to get seriously hurt because of how high and heavy the car is. Instead of stopping cars from getting bigger and keeping them away from schools, we’re making kids rely more on parents driving them to and from school, which isn’t a good solution and can cause more problems.
The driver didn’t see the concrete block and crashed. Is your child taller than this pillar? (11)
Commercials
Isn't it frustrating how many companies ignore these critical issues for a lot of profit? Think about all those ads we come across every day. Nature, open road, in the mist, there comes a car with flashy lights speeding and grabbing your attention with its sleek but robust design!
Are you thinking about starting a family? Bam! Suddenly, you're being pushed to buy a bigger car to fit the stroller. Interested in picking up a new sport? You're being told you need a massive vehicle for all your equipment. Dreaming of a nature-filled camping trip? According to these ads, you need to upgrade to an SUV. These marketing tactics make it seem like a large vehicle is a must-have for an active, adventure-seeking lifestyle, even though most people only do these activities once or twice a year. For many of us, renting the right vehicle when needed is the most practical and budget-friendly option.
SUV commercials never show the reality of using these big cars for daily commutes or trying to park them in the city. (Imagine a cringe-worthy SUV commercial versus the same car stuck in traffic vs struggling to park.)
Mud, rain, adventure! Not so cool when you can’t even park it? (12,13)
Large vehicles quickly gained popularity in Europe due to a loophole in EU regulations. A group of European road safety and environmental organizations is raising concerns about a loophole allowing American pickup trucks, particularly the Dodge Ram, to bypass EU safety and environmental regulations through the "Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA)" process. Since 2019, the number of these pickups entering the EU has more than doubled, leading to safety risks that are particularly dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. A 90% increased risk of severe injury and a nearly 200% higher risk of being killed. The organizations call for stricter regulations to close the IVA loophole and ensure all vehicles meet EU safety and environmental standards. (14)
In Sweden, a lot of people are buying SUVs
The rise in collisions between cyclists and large vehicles demands our attention. It would be a mistake to overlook this correlation, as it oversimplifies the problem and unfairly shifts the blame. Instead of expecting cyclists to be as visible as Christmas trees, we should focus on changing drivers' behavior.
Should Stockholm Follow Paris' Lead?
Oversized vehicles are a plague in the EU at the moment. Have some cities found a solution to this problem? Paris has recently established rules to limit big vehicles in the central parts of the city. This is to make it safer for people who walk and ride bicycles. This includes higher fees for parking SUVs and other large vehicles in the city center. Parisians have voted to significantly increase parking fees for SUVs in the city. The rate is tripled to €18 an hour for vehicles weighing 1.6 tonnes or more. The new rates will not affect residents but target suburban drivers entering central Paris. Electric cars, taxis, tradespeople, healthcare workers, and individuals with disabilities are exempt. (15)
At the same time, bike infrastructure was massively improved. As a result, there were more cyclists than drivers in the center of Paris! A recent study showed that 11.2% of trips in Paris are made by bike, compared to 4.3% by car. The city has decreased the number of motorized vehicles on the road by 40% in the last 12 years. It plans to improve roads and bicycle paths to become a city suitable for cycling by 2026. Paris is focusing on bicycles despite challenges, like needing more places to park bikes and making paths safer. This change is helping the city protect the environment and prepare for climate change. (16)
New bike lanes in Paris
Stockholm should consider implementing similar actions. Introducing a comparable system in our city could decrease the presence of large vehicles on our streets, encourage the use of smaller, more environmentally friendly motorized vehicles, and enhance safety for all road users.
Addressing the increasing dangers posed by large vehicles, especially SUVs and pickup trucks, is crucial in urban areas. Due to their size and design, these vehicles present a significant threat to cyclists and pedestrians, particularly children. Despite road safety campaigns, much of the responsibility for preventing accidents lies with drivers of these larger, more dangerous vehicles, not just with vulnerable road users. As cities grow and more people use bikes or walk, it's essential to spread the correct information and implement infrastructure and vehicle regulations changes. Since everyone is a pedestrian at some point, understanding and accountability must come from drivers of large vehicles, who cannot be treated the same as cyclists and pedestrians in traffic. These issues impact us all and must be prioritized for all road users' safety.
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Jeff Speck: Walkable City
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