Cycling Ireland Road Safety Report
Cycling Ireland’s Road Safety Commission (RSC) has today released the findings of its most comprehensive member survey to date, painting a sobering picture of the safety crisis facing cyclists across the island of Ireland. The report, based on responses from 2,191 experienced cyclists from across the island of Ireland, reveals that a majority of riders now feel the roads are becoming increasingly dangerous.
The report highlights a significant "dual road-user" perspective, as 96.7% of the respondents hold a valid drivers’ license. These are experienced road users whose views are grounded in thousands of hours on the road and reflect deep familiarity with traffic conditions.
Ciarán Cannon, President of Cycling Ireland, summarised the importance of the findings:
“This report reflects the views of more than two thousand experienced cyclists. What we are hearing is consistent, widespread, and deeply worrying. These are people who understand the road, most of whom both drive and cycle, and they are telling us clearly that our roads are not safe enough. When more than half have experienced a serious incident in the past year, that is not a marginal issue, it is a systemic one.”
“The message from cyclists is clear and urgent. This is not just about individual incidents, it points to deeper problems in how our roads are designed, how behaviour is managed, and how incidents are reported and addressed. But the report also shows a community that is engaged, constructive, and ready to be part of the solution. The evidence is there. The question now is whether we are prepared to act on it.”
Tim Farmer, Chairperson of the Cycling Ireland Road Safety Commission, emphasised the weight of the findings given the profile of the respondents: “Although this report paints a stark picture and provides evidence to the dangers we are seeing, especially on close passes and high incident rates. It shows the areas where small changes can make a significant difference. A whole of system approach will make our roads safer for all users, with improved planning and policing we can achieve safer roads.
Key findings from the February 2026 report include:
1. Routine Danger: 53.1% of respondents experience a "close pass" (a vehicle passing dangerously close) on most of their rides.
2. High Incident Rates: More than half (51.5%) of cyclists surveyed reported a collision or a serious near miss within the last 12 months.
3. Escalating Fear: 55.5% of respondents believe roads have become more dangerous year-on-year.
4. Infrastructure Failure: 65.3% rate current cycling infrastructure as "poor," "very poor," or "non-existent".
5. Reporting Gap: Only 11.2% of incidents are reported to An Garda Síochána or the PSNI, with nearly 44% of those who do report expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome.
Recommendations for Change
The report identifies driver education and awareness as the number one priority for members. In response, Cycling Ireland is calling for several critical interventions:
- National Close Pass Campaign: A coordinated awareness multi-stakeholder campaign targeting driver behaviour.
- National Video Evidence Portal: Implementing an online reporting system, similar to the UK’s Operation Snap, to allow cyclists to submit camera footage of dangerous incidents.
- Proper Resourcing of Garda Roads Policing: Dedicated Garda roads policing numbers have fallen from over 1,000 to just 650, at a time of major population growth and a record number of cars on our roads. Proper resourcing of our Gardai must be a priority.
- Infrastructure Investment: Urgent improvement of segregated cycling lanes to meet the needs of commuters and leisure riders alike.
- The findings also reveal an estimated annual health economic cost of approximately €7.5 million due to members cycling less frequently because of safety concerns.
Click here to download the full report.