Increase in share of accidents that are bike-on-bike sparks debate on behaviour and road space in Amsterdam

A growth in cycling trips in Amsterdam has been accompanied by an increase in the proportion of accidents involving no cars, according to the Netherlands' road safety institute.

A growth in cycling trips from an average of 470,000 daily between 1986 and 1991 to 604,000 per day between 2004 and 2008, and still rising, is forcing cyclists to not ride at a speed of their choice, SWOV's report states, says the City Lab website. The report attributes some of 1,000 serious accidents following collisions between cyclists to cyclist behaviour, including overtaking without looking and listening to music.

But City Lab suggests that intervention by the authorities might help, quoting a blog Amsterdamize that says that only 11% of public space in the capital is allocated to cycling, despite the fact 70% of city centre trips are made by bike.