More will be done to improve cyclist safety, says Portsmouth transport boss

It comes after figures by the Department for Transport revealed Portsmouth was the most dangerous place outside London to ride a bike – with 888 cycle casualties per million of the population in 2015.

Alan Cufley, the council’s director for transport, said: ‘The number of collisions involving cyclists in the city has been going down since 2011, based on data from Hampshire Constabulary.

‘Despite this, the council is very aware that we still have work to do on improving safety. It is important to remember that Portsmouth has a high number of cyclists, so unfortunately, the potential for there to be more accidents involving cyclists is greater.

‘2011 census data shows 7,148 (4.7 per cent) regularly commute by bike in Portsmouth. This is double the Hampshire average (2.2 per cent).

‘We’re keen to encourage more people to get on their bikes and are investing in improving cycle safety in a number of ways.

‘We have recently put in a further bid to the government for £1.5m to continue our work to promote and deliver safer sustainable travel.’