The Prague Post: Accidents rise amid bicycle boom

A surge in cycling’s popularity has a tragic flip side — a rise in bicycle accidents. Police say the number of traffic accidents caused by cyclists rose nearly one-third in the first half of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. That meant 1,209 traffic accidents were caused by cyclists in the first six months of this year, compared to 982 accidents during the same period last year.

The biggest problem is the number of cyclists sharing the road with cars, according to police.“The network of bicycle paths has not been finished yet, and we have not managed to get cyclists out of the main roads,” says Vladimír Stupka, head of the traffic police. “Also, not all cyclists are disciplined; two or three will ride next to each other or without lights at night.”

Whenever the weather is nice, cyclists are seemingly everywhere, swinging around on the cobblestone streets in the cities or climbing the hills in the countryside.“With 1,000 kilometers [621 miles] of cycling paths, this country cannot be compared with places like Holland [with 17,000 kilometers] or Hungary [with 7,000 kilometers],” says Ivana Jelínková, spokeswoman for the Transportation Ministry.

“But we want to continue in the well-started cycle paths development and support of cycling.”In 2007, transport officials have allocated 150 million Kč ($7.3 million) for building new bike paths, which is 40 million Kč more than last year. By comparison, the amount spent in 2001 was only 10 million Kč.“The first bike paths were built in the ’80s,” Jelínková says.Bike-lover Stáňa Dědinová likes riding her bike in south Bohemia. “There are beautiful roads for bikes and the signs are easy to read,” says Dědinová.

“But across the border, in Austria, it is even better.”After riding her bike for more than 10 years, Dědinová can see the changes.“Every year, you meet more and more people on bikes. I have also noticed that now more people are wearing helmets,” she says.By law, only children up to 15 are required to wear helmets.Still, the growing number of cyclists and the risks involved in riding on the streets are behind the rising number of traffic accidents. This year, 45 cyclists have died on the roads so far, including three children. Of that number, 36 of the deaths were said to be caused by the cyclists themselves.

“The interesting thing is that every year a high number of traffic accidents are caused by cyclists who ride their bikes drunk,” says Pavel Hanták, a traffic police spokesman.“We have had 230 such cases this year. Another common cause is not giving the right of way [283 cases this year] and speeding [78 cases].”Two recent accidents had tragic endings.A cyclist in the Kroměříž region of south Moravia was killed by a train after he tried to cross the tracks. And a 40-year-old cyclist near Tábor, south Bohemia, was killed by a truck after he tried to pass it.

Yet even such tragedies cannot discourage people who worship the healthy, bike-riding lifestyle.And it makes bike sellers happy.“Since the 1990s, I have seen a huge growth in people shopping for bikes. This year, we have sold 10 percent more than last year,” says Vladimír Brychcín, a Prague bike-shop owner.

“One reason for this year’s growth is that people started shopping for bikes early due to the mild and short winter and early spring.” The Dejvice shop owner says that, compared with other nations, Czechs ride on better-quality bikes. “I see the bikes that people ride in Germany, for example, and Czechs are simply willing to spend their money on a good bike,” Brychcín adds.For Dědinová, riding is an inseparable part of her lifestyle.“When I started 10 years ago, it was hard for me to go uphill. I was short of breath, tired.

Now, I am over 50, but thanks to my bike I am in much better shape. I love the feel of freedom and being outside. I feel 20 years younger when I am on my bike.”