While drivers and bureaucrats like to imagine that cyclists have accidents because they ride carelessly, eg. were ‘weaving’, or ‘turned in front’ of them, the reality is very different.

Government statistics show that, among Hong Kong cyclists involved in accidents, the vast majority (84%) were going straight ahead with priority.  Other road users involved in accidents were more than twice as likely (35% v 16%) to be making a manoeuvre (eg. turning, overtaking or changing lanes), suggesting that they were inattentive or the move was improper.

We also note that overtaking on the near side was no more likely than average to be a factor in a bike accident.

Check out the data for yourself.