Conflicts Between Cyclists and Motorists in Toronto, Canada

This paper presents the findings of an analysis of 2572 police-reported collisions between bicyclists and motorists that occurred between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1998 in the city of Toronto. The aim of the study was to identify the most significant kinds of car/bike collisions in the city, and to try to understand the factors involved. By “most significant” we mean those collisions which are most frequent, or which typically result in the most serious injuries. It was hoped that the results would suggest specific countermeasures that might be most effective in reducing the danger of cycling in the city’s traffic. The study was successful in characterising the types of crashes that are most prevalent in Toronto. These primary results of the analysis will be discussed, but first, a brief description of Toronto’s traffic environment will provide some context.