From January to October 2025, 187 people died on Italian roads (ASAPS data) after being involved in accidents while riding a bicycle. What can we change, as road users, to save lives? And what advice does the Giro d’Italia feel compelled to offer to help make our roads safer?
1.The metre and a half: essential! All road safety regulations regarding coexistence between cyclists and motorists revolve around this distance, which truly can save lives. By keeping 1.5 metres on any extra-urban road, we ensure we don’t put cyclists at risk, avoiding harm even in the case of wind gusts or uneven surfaces that might throw them off balance.
As highlighted by the Ipsos Global Advisor (2022) survey, 52% of adults worldwide consider cycling in their area too dangerous. This simple precaution alone would radically change that perception.
2.Cyclists and motorcyclists have no “bodywork” to protect them. These two groups are especially vulnerable because any point of impact is their own body. Cycling is not only recreational: people ride bikes to go to work, take their children to school, or look after their health.
3.Don’t assume you’re safe just because conditions are “ideal”. ASAPS data show that over 90% of bicycle accidents occur on dry asphalt and in good weather. These are precisely the conditions that tempt people to “push the limits”: reduce safety distances, make improper overtakes, and try to “save time” just to shorten the journey. That is exactly when disaster happens.
4.Let’s look at other countries too. Spain – a country that shares with Italy a deep culture and passion for cycling – records far fewer accidents. According to Spain’s Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), in 2022 81 cyclists lost their lives across all twelve months, less than half the number in Italy. This is due to strict regulations, but also to proper road signage and, above all, a deeply rooted culture of respect developed through decades of education and public-awareness campaigns. It is no coincidence that the Iberian Peninsula is the place all top-level cycling teams choose for their pre-season training camps: besides the favourable weather – which Italy also has – the riders find a near-reverential respect for cyclists and roads where their presence is encouraged and promoted.
5.Above all, mutual respect. It is essential to remember that the rules apply to everyone, including vulnerable road users. We will not protect cyclists – especially in the eyes of the public – if there is no reciprocal respect for the rules of the road. Wearing a helmet, avoiding earphones, staying visible, and riding as indicated by the regulations are the first layer of protection we owe ourselves.
In conclusion, we must never forget this: a person on a bicycle is a human being – a father or mother, a son or daughter, a partner. Someone just like you. A bike carries a life. Let’s protect it.
