"First Bicycle Accident Reported by French Police, Providing an Unexpected Explanation"
Free Cycling Safety Training Offered in Upper Franconia
In an effort to increase safety when cycling or riding an e-bike, the Police Headquarters of Upper Franconia is offering a free cycling safety training on August 12, 2025, from 10 am to 2 pm. The training will take place at the practice area of the youth traffic school in Forchheim, on the bike path between Forchheim and Kersbach, Rittigfeld.
The training aims to help cyclists optimize their own riding behavior and better assess risks. Participation in the training is free and does not require registration. A skills course for children is also part of the training.
Many bicycle accidents in Upper Franconia occur when getting on or off the bike, often resulting in falls with severe injuries. Riding up onto curbs is a common cause of these accidents. The training will teach cyclists how to navigate intersections safely, understand right-of-way rules, and be more visible and predictable to drivers.
The police in Upper Franconia have identified the "number one cause" of bicycle accidents as the cyclist themselves. Approximately 50% of bicycle accidents in the region involve the injured cyclist causing the accident. Overestimating one's abilities, especially when riding off-road, is a common cause of these accidents.
The training will also educate drivers on the importance of watching for cyclists, checking blind spots thoroughly, and avoiding distractions. It will promote awareness of defensive cycling techniques and hazard anticipation for cyclists. The dangers of impaired or distracted driving and riding will also be emphasized.
Participants can have their own bicycles checked for roadworthiness during the training. Information on proper road behavior will be provided during the training.
Recent statistics show that blame for bicycle accidents is often shifted to others, but the data indicates that the cyclist is often the cause. In a recent case in Coburg, a 66-year-old e-bike rider fell alone while riding downhill at the Judenberg, suffering severe head and arm injuries - she was not wearing a helmet.
By improving knowledge and skills, safety training reduces risky behaviors and enhances the ability of both drivers and cyclists to share the road responsibly, thereby decreasing the risk of collisions. The training is part of the ongoing efforts to increase safety when cycling or riding an e-bike in Upper Franconia.
During the free cycling safety training in Upper Franconia, participants will be taught how to better assess risks associated with accidents, particularly while getting on or off their bikes, a common cause of injuries. The training will also include education for drivers on the importance of watching for cyclists and following defensive driving techniques to decrease the risk of collisions.
