The Covid closures have spurred a new wave of enthusiasm for cycling in Sydney, and with it, an increase in cycling-related injuries, new data shows, but a public health expert said Australians “shouldn’t consider cycling a dangerous thing “.

Associate Professor Melody Ding of the University of Sydney School of Public Health said “a combination of things” has contributed to the 78% increase in bicycle-related injuries in New South Wales compared to to 2020.

Ding said the pandemic created “opportunities” for a wave of cycling. “Now people understand that cycling is not only a sustainable form of transportation, but also infectious disease friendly. “

“In confinement, people also had time to reassess their lifestyle and health,” she said. “In addition, there was less traffic on the roads.

“So there are more people riding bikes than usual. And there are new types of people who cycle.

Ding said that before the pandemic, the cycling demographics were predominantly “serious cyclists who ride daily” and were “disproportionate to people of higher economic status.”

“Not all suburbs have this infrastructure for cycling,” Ding said. With the lockdown restriction within a 5 km radius, Ding expects the socio-economic demographics of cyclists to have not changed drastically.

However, with the lockdown creating a more favorable climate for cycling, Ding said, “we have especially seen more young children riding bikes.”

“And because they’re just learning, they’re more prone to getting hurt.”

NSW Health said that from June 26, when the Sydney lockdown began, to October 14, bicycle-related injuries were up 78% from the same period last year. During that time, 173 children and adolescents were admitted to Westmead Children’s Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick – up from 97 during the same period of 2020.

Traumatologist Susan Adams said children need to be careful when riding a bicycle.

“Most importantly, they have to make sure they are wearing a helmet,” she said. “This simple step can make the difference between a beautiful day and a tragic end.”

Bastien Wallace of Bicycle NSW told Guardian Australia that a helmet is “very good protection in the event of a fall”, as research has found that a helmet reduces the risk of head injury from 60 to 90%.

“But if you get hit by a car, that’s not enough,” Wallace said.

She urged new cyclists to seek safe driving resources, and practice with a local group of cyclists.

“It helps build confidence, find new routes away from the road and learn from more experienced riders. “

Ding said the solution goes beyond personal safety precautions.

“Australia lags behind other countries with a strong cycling culture. “

“We have to think about wanting a sustainable way to move people,” she said. “And we need to create a culture that tolerates cycling to achieve this, including more awareness and education for drivers on the road.”

During Sydney’s lockdown, when “the trail became a place of contention,” Wallace said she saw a shift in that culture.

“Suddenly people had time to ride their bikes – and that’s a good thing.”

Bicycle NSW members have reported waiting lists of up to six weeks for bicycle maintenance. “More and more people are pulling their bikes out of their sheds that haven’t in ages,” Wallace said.

“You know more people want to ride a bike when bike shops run out of bikes.”

Fabian Caley, workshop manager at Glow Worm Electric Bikes in central-west Sydney, said that at the start of the lockdown their showroom had to be closed and staffing reduced.

“It was really difficult,” he said. “We might sell a bike a week. “

Almost two months after the lockdown began, however, Caley said “we’ve had customers calling again.”

“We had people coming to buy bikes there, which is unusual for us.”

Since the lockdown ended, he has seen the number of sales “continue to rise”, especially families buying cargo bikes.

Ding said that seeing the increasing number of children on bicycles is “really important.”

She explained that cycling is “the kind of physical activity that both gets you positioned but is intense enough to be good for your cardiovascular fitness, metabolic system and mental health.”

“In Sydney traffic, it can help you get there faster, with zero carbon emissions along the way. “

“When we think of building a culture of cycling, kids are the best place to start. And from Covid, we have a good dynamic, ”she said. “We need to keep the numbers going when our lives get back to normal and make sure these new riders keep riding. “