‘Epidemic’ of injured cyclists in Australia

A study obtained by the ABC shows cycling injuries are being grossly under-estimated.

The NRMA-ACT Road Safety Trust report, obtained by Radio National's Background Briefing program, has found a huge discrepancy between ACT police data and hospital records.

Official bike injury statistics are based on police records. But not all bike injuries are reported to police, and the report shows that 98 per cent of cycling injuries are not showing up in official statistics.

In Melbourne, the head of emergency at Sandringham Hospital says cycling injuries have all the hallmarks of an epidemic. "I use the word epidemic because there has been a true increase in adult cyclists having injuries. And I think it's caught many of the health authorities unawares," Dr James Taylor said