Montreal, Thursday, May 22, 2025 - While the SAAQ's 2024 road report is stable overall, Vélo Québec is concerned about the worrying rise in the number of cyclists involved in collisions. In 2024, 13 cyclists lost their lives on Quebec roads, two more than in 2023. As for serious injuries, they are also up 24.6 % on the previous 5-year average, continuing a worrying trend that began over the last two years.
This contrasts with the progress made over the decades: according to data from The State of Cycling 2020, Safety for cyclists has generally improved, despite a steady increase in the number of cyclists and the volume of car traffic. This recent trend reversal is worth understanding.
A blind spot in the data: VAE needs to be better supervised
Vélo Québec is now asking the question: could this upsurge in collisions be linked to the growing popularity of the electric-assist bicycle (EAB)? But it's impossible to know at present: the official definition of an EAB, still awaiting updating by the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable (MTMD), does not distinguish between collisions involving EABs and those involving conventional bicycles.
« Has cycling really become more dangerous? We don't think so, but we need to better understand whether the adoption of ECVs by a growing proportion of the population can explain some of the phenomenon. To do this, we need to be able to distinguish between collisions involving an ECV. We are therefore asking MTMD to accelerate its work on redefining ACE, based on the recommendations we issued in the fall of 2024. »says Jean-François Rheault, President and CEO of Vélo Québec.
Making high-speed roads safer: a priority
In addition, the 2024 road balance reveals that around half of all deaths of cyclists occurred on roads where the speed limit is 90 km/h or more. This figure is a reminder of the importance of making the most high-risk roads safe, even in rural areas.
Vélo Québec therefore reiterates its recommendation that the needs of pedestrians and cyclists be systematically taken into account in road network rehabilitation, improvement or development projects under the responsibility of the MTMD, according to the complete streets principle, as put forward in its recent commentary as part of the consultations on the National Prevention Health Strategy 2025.
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About Vélo Québec
Since 1967, Vélo Québec's mission has been to develop cycling culture for everyone, everywhere in Quebec.
www.velo.qc.ca
Information
Vélo Québec
Justine Bérubé, Public Relations and Communications Advisor
[email protected]
514 942-0743
