For the first time, figures on the number of cyclists injured in crashes each year in Ireland have been released. And there is also a breakdown showing which hospitals treat most injured cyclists.
Figures for cycling crash injuries across Ireland
Almost 3,000 cyclists have attended hospital for crash injuries sustained while on their bikes, new data from the Health Service Executive has revealed.
The information was released to Tommy Broughan TD (Lab) who has undertaken a long campaign for the figures to be published.
Included in the data he has received in response to Dáil questions are those cases in which cycling was filed as the cause of the injury.
Any cases where cycling was not included in the records would not be captured in the data. It is impossible to determine how many such hospital visits occur each year.
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Also not in the data are those many crashes that result in bruising and abrasions that do not result in a hospital visit.
According to the figures, 1,339 cyclists attended hospital for treatment after a “transport accident” in 2016.
And in 2015 the cycling crash injury numbers were slightly higher; a total of 1,350 across hospitals in the Republic.
Information for last year is not yet available. And given how long it has taken for the 2015 and 2016 figures to be released, the 2018 information may not be available for some time.
The table below reveals which hospitals dealt with injured cyclists most frequently in the two years under review.
The new figures emerge as the family, friends and club mates of Errigal CC's Noel McDermott are preparing for his funeral tomorrow.
Last Friday in Donegal he became the first cyclist killed on Irish roads this year. He was in collision with a motorist in a car while he was training.
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When sharing the figures for cycling crash injuries, Tommy Broughan noted the level of concern after 15 cycling fatalities last year; up from 10 in 2016.
“I have finally been receiving some data on injuries in road traffic collisions,” Broughan said of the cycling injury numbers.
“I forwarded the parliamentary question replies from the HSE to Minister for Health Simon Harris and Minister for Transport Shane Ross this morning.”
He added he had urged them to “examine the very high numbers of people being injured on our roads”.
Tommy Broughan continued: "To see such huge numbers of injured cyclists is also very worrying.
“And cycling advocates have reported increases in the number of injuries due to the Luas lines around Dublin city centre.”
The reply from the HSE listed the “number of discharges with an external cause code of pedal cyclist injured in transport accidents in acute hospitals, reported to HIPE for 2015 and 2016”.
HIPE is the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry system.
It showed 80 hospital discharges from Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin in both 2015 and 2016.
There were 56 discharges in 2015 from Temple Street Children’s Hospital and 72 in 2016.
Cork University Hospital had the highest number with 146 discharges in 2015 and 127 in 2016.
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