# Analysis of Solutions Improving Safety of Cyclists in the Road Traffic
## 4 Measures to Increase the Safety of Cyclists and Other Road Users
It is recommended that behavioral issues are considered in the action planning stage, as they can influence the choice of infrastructure type. For example, studies have indicated that commuter cyclists prefer on-street bike lanes over paths, because lanes are closely linked to the street network and provide more direct routes [39]. Spatial analyses of the identification of hazards and their characteristics do not always coincide with the opinions of users as to the scale of needs, and therefore, as a result of consultations, valuable information can be obtained, the acquisition of which may be difficult or even impossible in any other way. The next step is to pre-select measures along with an implementation plan. An integral part of this stage is determining the implementation costs and assessing the risk reduction potential. The initial  
Figure 2: An example of an analysis of the location of accidents involving cyclists in 2015–2017 on the road network of the Wielkopolskie Province [18]. concept developed--together with the implementation plan--should be discussed again as part of public consultations and possibly verified in terms of the presented proposals and postulates. **Stage III--Implementation and monitoring--along with the implementation process, i.e., introducing the planned infrastructure and organizational solutions, evaluation is of particular importance, i.e., evaluation of the effectiveness of measures taken, which must answer the basic question about the degree of road safety improvement, in particular bicycle traffic. If the evaluation is positive, the spot and area monitoring of the road safety and road user behavior, including cyclists, should be introduced. Changes in safety and the relationship between the risk of cycling and the movement of other vehicles should be monitored. If the evaluation of the results is negative, it is necessary to return to the planning stage, i.e., verification of the pre-selected measures and the adopted concept, together with the implementation plan. In the case of a new set of selected solutions, the implementation costs should be determined and the potential for safety improvement should be evaluated. The verified scope of activities should be consulted with the public again before it is finally approved. After considering the proposals and conclusions, an updated concept is implemented. **  
The activities and selection of road safety devices should be carried out at different levels of management: central (strategic), provincial (tactical) and local (operational). The activities related to the safety of bicycle traffic include:  
1. **At the central (strategic) level:** * conducting periodic, nationwide diagnosis of cyclists' safety,
* monitoring achieving the cyclists' safety objectives, contained in the National Road Safety Program [20],
* amending legal acts relating to infrastructure and bicycle traffic,
* education on cycling in road traffic,
* development and dissemination of principles, recommendations, and methodologies for the organization of safe bicycle traffic and the creation of bicycle traffic development plans as well as manuals and studies with examples of \"good practices\". 2. **At the provincial (tactical) level:** * conducting periodic provincial diagnosis of cyclists' safety,
* verification of the objectives and measures taken for the safety of cyclists included in the provincial road safety programs,
* allocating to the planned investment and organizational measures for the safety of cyclists an appropriate rank in the strategic documents of the province (province development strategies, regional strategic transport programs, regional operational programs, integrated territorial agreements),
* subjecting regional road (transport) projects to the road safety audits, with a focus on cyclists' safety,
* substantive and financial support (as part of the provincial financial plans) in the implementation of pilot projects by municipalities with the greatest risks to cycling. 3.