Noa Moussa edited by Wassila Belhacine 9:41 p.m., June 03, 2022

This Friday is World Bike Day, the opportunity to return to this means of transport which has seduced the French since the pandemic but which has also been massively involved in road accidents.

To date, the number of injured cyclists has increased by 14% in the city and by 19% outside the city over one year.

A balance which is explained by the difficult cohabitation of road users. 

Today we celebrate World Bike Day.

This means of transport has attracted many French people after the health crisis.

However, it is often hated by the rest of the road users because of the incivility shown by many cyclists.

This is what Julien, a 38-year-old cyclist, admits without complex, while putting his headphones back in his ears.

With a smile on his face, he admits having "taken a few forbidden directions and ran two or three red lights" during the day.

This behavior is well known to motorists who are extra vigilant to avoid accidents.

"The failure of cyclists to respect red lights is the most dangerous thing, especially when you have to turn and they cut the road", indignant Jean-Noël, behind the wheel.

"If they have lights and they don't respect them, we don't necessarily look at them as motorists, we cross them, and that's how accidents happen," he adds. at the microphone of Europe 1.

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 Avoidable accidents 

The result of these behaviors is clear: in town, the number of injured cyclists has increased by 14% in one year.

However, these accidents are not always caused by cyclists.

"I was on the cycle path and there was a moped that was next to it. It suddenly cut off the cycle path so I couldn't brake. I hit the moped," says Stéphane feverishly, 58, on his bright yellow bicycle.

"Well luckily I didn't have anything, well yes, I was a little damaged in my leg, but nothing compared to what I could have really had". 

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 The risks incurred by road users would be significantly reduced by anticipating the dangers.

"To limit accidents, cyclists must turn their heads, anticipate changes in direction of other users and learn to brake with both hands", explains Julien Rebuffet, director of the national union of French cycling instructors.

He also adds that a "simple thank you when we are given the passage would serve to pacify relations between users".