BICYCLE SAFETY: SUSTAINING MOBILITY AND ENVIRONMENT

Bicycles constitute some sixty percent of all vehicular traffic in the Tamale municipality (Ghana). In order to realize the full potential of this mode of transport to serve the mobility needs of especially the urban poor, it is suggested that a safe cycling environment is an important prerequisite. To this end a study of bicycle accidents in the municipality for the period 1989-1991 was conducted. A consistent rise in the number of accidents was observed but accident severity declined. Bicyclists were about six times more likely to die in accidents than motorists. The main accident types were rear-end collisions into leading cyclists in dark hours ending in "cutting" of cyclists too closely by overtaking motorists in daylight. Countermeasures suggested include use of the Finnish disc to reduce "cutting" and improved taillights/reflectors on bicycles to enhance their conspicuity in dark hours. Separation of bicycles from motorized traffic has also been recommended.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03861112
• Corporate Authors:

  International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences

  6-20, Yaesu 2-chome, Chuo-ku
  Tokyo 104-0028,   Japan 
• Authors:
  • Salifu, M
• Publication Date: 1993

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 60-66
• Serial:
  • IATSS Research
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences
  • ISSN: 0386-1112

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycle crashes; Bicycling; Countermeasures; Crash severity; Crash types; Cyclists; Fatalities; Rear end crashes; Reflectorized materials; Taillamps; Traffic safety; Visibility
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bicycle safety; Traffic segregation
• Geographic Terms: Ghana
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00721549
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-042 048
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 28 1996 12:00AM