Cycling safety and participation - if you build it, will they use it and be safe?

Speaker - Caroline Tait, University of Leeds

The introduction of cycling against the flow of traffic has often proved controversial in the UK because it was perceived to be unsafe.  Caroline will present the first large-scale UK based study on the safety of contraflow cycling examining more than 500 streets over 22 years that shows that it does not change cyclists safety. This means that this low-cost intervention could be rolled out to improve cycle routes and networks.

This research has been published in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000145752200330X?via%3Dihub#b0040

She will also present her latest research examining whether introducing contraflow cycling changes cycling participation as assessed using Strava count data before introducing her new role as a Consultant in Public Health at Bradford Council with a focus on research, data and the wider determinants of health that is likely to open new avenues of joint working between the University and decision makers.

Bio:

Caroline is a former GP and National Clinical Lead for NHS Digital. She has trained to be a Consultant in Public Health and her PhD forms part of that training. She is just about to submit her thesis from her 4 year Integrated Masters and PhD in Data Analytics and Society.  This PhD is funded by the ESRC as part of their Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Analytics and Society in LIDA.