Worrying new findings about how a lack of infrastructure investment is leading to an increase in injured cyclists.
A report by Dr Grant Christey shows an 18% increase in cyclist injury admissions at middle and regional hospitals in New Zealand year-on-year for the past four years.
"We think that's a fairly massive burden on the community and we'd like to have something done about it," Mr Christey told TVNZ1's Breakfast today.
Nearly 1000 people were admitted to hospital in New Zealand between 2012 and 2016, one in who 10 suffered major trauma.
Dr Christey said the research showed 998 patients were injured, 213 of which had severe injuries and 54 had major traumatic brain injuries.
"What we're seeing is just the tip of the iceberg. These are only the patients that were admitted to hospital, it didn't capture those that were seen by their GP or local A&E centre and went home, or those that never sought medical advice, so we think the problem's much bigger than we're seeing."
The "significant issue" could cost millions of dollars over a lifetime, Dr Christey said.
He said the injuries came from both road cyclists and recreational biking, including mountain biking, and said the three main ways to reduce the problem was to improve the skill base of riders, change the attitudes of both cyclists and non-cyclists and to improve infrastructure.
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