Severity of bicycle non-vehicle crashes in Hong Kong: A comparative study of non-collision and collision injuries

Introduction

With limited road space and a highly developed public transport system, Hong Kong has low bicycle usage and bicycles are primarily regarded as recreational tools. Consequently, cyclist safety concerns and road crashes have received relatively little attention.

Methods

To address this gap, this study conducts a comparative analysis of non-collision and collision injury severity in bicycle non-vehicle (BNV) crashes, using a total of 17,490 cyclist injury records in Hong Kong (2014–2023). Random parameters logit models are employed to evaluate the impact of key factors on BNV crash outcomes.

Results

The findings demonstrate a downward trend in both non-collision and collision injury severity over the ten-year period. Factors significantly associated with more severe non-collision injuries include: cyclists aged 55 or above, maneuver of making turn, bicycles aged 5 years or less, road segments, Hong Kong Island, autumn season, dark conditions, and two-way roads and dual or more carriageways. For collision injuries, key risk factors include: cyclists aged 35 or above, male cyclists, collision with objects, maneuver of overtaking, bicycles aged 5 years or less, hit-and-run behaviors, road segments, during midnight to dawn, wet road surfaces, and dual or more carriageways.

Conclusions

The study underscores the need for dedicated cycle tracks and shared road designs to mitigate cyclist safety risks. These findings provide evidence-based recommendations for infrastructure improvements and policy interventions.