Cyclist observations by Gorski Consulting in 2026 indicate, as always, that safety is not just about providing infrastructure, it is more complicated than this. The leg bandage here does not resolve the underlying issue.
In an article posted on this Gorski Consulting website on January 2, 2026 we reported on our findings from cyclist observations in 2025. This article also contained tables from similar observations dating back to 2021. In this present article we provide the latest cyclist observation data from the first six months of 2026. This data is shown in the table below.
As can be seen, the first six months of 2026 exhibited similar findings to previous years, except that the number of observations was increased. In typical fashion numbers of observations were low in January and February. Winter was particularly harsh in the London area. Observation numbers began to rise in March and these continued to increase until the last month of June. In June, 2026 we observed the greatest number of cyclists at 268 and this helped to increase the overall total for the six months to 790 observations. This is the highest number of cyclists we have ever documented since we started our focused attention on cyclists in about 2020.
As typical, observations of female riders continued to be low compared to their male counterparts. The female average of 13.04% is within the typical range between 12 and 14% that has been seen throughout this study since 2020.
Sidewalk usage by cyclists appears to have dropped slightly compared to previous years however this is misleading. In the last couple of years we began a focus on comparing two roadways, one of which contained a cycling lane. Upper Queen Street which becomes renamed to Ridout Street contains a cycling lane so that almost all cyclists riding on this roadway are coded as not riding on a sidewalk. In contrast we compared this to Horton Street which becomes Hamilton Road which contains essentially no infrastructure for cyclists. Several cyclist fatalities have been reported recently along Horton-Hamilton and so this is the reason why we have focused on these two roadways because we wanted to see what differences may emerge. So, this is the reason why observations of cyclists on sidewalks appear to have been reduced when it is only a function of a change in our procedures. A discussion of the comparison between Upper Queen-Ridout and Horton-Hamilton will be provided in another Gorski Consulting website article in the near future.
The most effective way of studying the safety of cyclists in London would include a detailed examination of all cyclist collisions. Unfortunately those officials such as London City Police and the City of London have provided very little or no information about those cyclist collisions. The local, official, news media have also failed to conduct investigations which could inform the general public. Hospitals that receive injured cyclists in their emergency wards also have an opportunity to collect and disseminate collision data however they are hampered by not being able to combine critical collision reconstruction information with that injury data.
Given these unhelpful conditions Gorski Consulting has attempted to gather cyclist observational data that provides some insight into this safety issue. A dash camera mounted to a moving vehicle has been used to take photos of cyclists along roadways in London. A database of these photos is compiled and then analysed to create tables such as the one shown at the top of this article. While these photos and summaries are not ideal there is no other available option to inform the general public. Not only do cyclists need to know how they could be injured or killed but drivers of motor vehicles also need to know how they could avoid those collisions. The Gorski Consulting observational data provides some help in that regard.
Gorski Consulting has selected a few photos of cyclists from this past six months to provide some examples of possible safety problems. Some of these photos are shown below.
This photo, taken in January, 2026, has been chosen to emphasize the fact that darkness exists more often in winter months and therefore it is important for cyclists to be seen. Here a cycle has been equipped with a headlight, which is helpful, however more could be done by the rider in wearing florescent clothing. And obviously a high-powered, red taillight would be highly important. In winter many roadsides are covered in snow, and so are many cycling lanes, so riders need to be very informed whether those conditions could cause them to be struck by passing motor vehicles.This photo, taken in January, 2026, illustrates the problem that some cyclists need to transport cargo on their cycles and this causes special safety problems. Balance is important or else a cyclist may lose control of their bike. And there is a danger of striking roadside objects or, in this case, objects piled onto a sidewalk. Rarely is it emphasized that cyclist injuries not only come from impacts by motor vehicles but that injuries are also caused by striking roadside/sidewalk objects.This photo, taken in February, 2026, emphasizes that “playing” in traffic has its consequences. This cyclist is trying to cross the four lanes of Horton Street east of Wellington, while he, and his bike, are not equipped to be seen. Many serious cyclist collisions occur when cyclists attempt to cross in this fashion.This photo, taken in March, 2026 is a reminder that many cyclist collisions occur when cyclists riding on a sidewalk, cross an intersecting roadway while in the confides of pedestrian crossings. When ever cyclists are observed in a pedestrian crossing it is almost exclusively because they originated from riding on a sidewalk. Here a motor vehicle driver may not expect the cyclist’s approach leading to a possible collision.This out-of-focus view, taken in April of 2026, shows a cyclist carrying, large, full-loaded bags of aluminum cans. This makes the bike much wider as the rider passes by fixed objects such as the yellow fire hydrant. Seemingly small contacts to immovable objects can cause loss-of-control and a fall. Even falls at low speeds can cause major head injuries if a cyclist does not wear a helmet and/or the impact is to an unpredictably harsh roadside object.This photo, taken in April, 2026, is meant to remind riders that full attention is needed to where one is travelling. Here the cyclist is looking down at a cellphone while not looking where he is going. This activity is no less dangerous than when a motor vehicle driver is distracted by looking at a cellphone while driving.This photo, taken in May 2026 is a reminder that cyclists and heavy vehicles are a dangerous combination. Drivers of heavy vehicles have limited visibility along the right side plus their additional width means that they can come close to a cyclist even when the cyclist is properly within a painted cycling lane. At the same time, cyclists cannot always recognize what type of vehicle is approaching them from the rear.In this example, taken from June 2026, we see a cyclist who is doing everything in a proper fashion when he intends to make a left turn. He signals with an outstretched left arm and he has taken the centre of the lane. Unfortunately what may happen is out of his control as it is difficult for the cyclist to appreciate what is happening behind him. It requires the cooperation of a driver of a motor vehicle to understand this action and to slow down to allow the cyclist to make the turn in safety. Every bit of illumination, such as the red taillight, improves the scenario but reflective clothing helps.In this photo from June 2026 we see an example of how children can perform in unpredictable ways without fully appreciating the danger they create. Here a rear passenger is doing the steering while the front rider is doing the pedalling. Fortunately this is occurring on a sidewalk and not on a roadway.In this example from June 2026 a cyclist is taking his pet dog on a ride on his shoulders. Riding next to rigid fixed objects such as poles etc., leaves no room for error. A closer view of the combination is shown below.This pet seems to understand all the tricks but a minor mishap could cause a fall.In this June 2026 photo we see a cyclist wearing a helmet while also wearing some kind of hood. This is something that is sometimes seen in winter conditions when riders find that a helmet is too cold to wear alone. It is a reminder, much like the advice that we need to wear a seat-belt, that the word “properly” is very important. A seat-belt is of little benefit, and could be dangerous, when worn improperly. And similarly a helmet, if worn improperly, provides very little benefit to the rider. This final photo, taken in June of 2026, is of a white ghost bike that was installed near the intersection of Hamilton Road and East Street in east London shortly after a cyclist was killed there in June of 2019. As years have passed the white bike is showing signs of the rust of age.
Summary
We seem satisfied to install memorials to a cyclist who has passed away and then we move on to more important things. Those important things are the bombardment by the details of sporting outcomes, the latest fashions, television shows, car promotions, music fads, politics and every other frivolous detail that keeps us away from paying attention to things that really matter. Many of us are so attached to our smartphones that we cannot put them down, even when we are also watching a TV show, conversing with someone or driving. When we are involved in a serious collision we suddenly realize that the results are permanent and our lives change, become limited or come to an end. But we believe that possibility is often as likely as being struck by lightning.
Cycling is a dangerous activity in London Ontario. It could be better and it could be worse. We can improve the circumstances by learning more about how cycling collisions occur. Building more cycling infrastructure helps but it will not solve many of the safety problems that will continue to exist because both motor vehicle drivers and cyclists continue to be kept in the dark about how to prevent those collisions.
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