There has been a 38% rise in the number of serious cycle accidents on Welsh roads from 2013 to 2014, according to latest figures from Road Safety Wales.

In 2014, 138 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on Welsh roads, compared with 100 in 2013. Overall 567 cyclists were injured in Wales in 2014, 14% more than the previous year.

Ten years ago the annual average for cyclists killed or injured on Welsh roads was 70 (2004 – 2008) meaning that the serious accident rate has risen by 98 per cent over that period. By contrast casualties attributed to cars in the past ten years has fallen by 28 per cent.

The surge in accidents and injuries is thought to be partly linked to the growing popularity of cycling, there are simply more cyclists on Welsh roads. For example figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that the number of people cycling to work in Wales rose from 16,389 in 2001 to 19,156 in 2011.

According to statistics released by the in February this year, the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads has risen by almost 40 per cent in the last five years to 3,500 cases.

Anthony Welsh, a keen cyclist and serious injury solicitor based in Thompsons Solicitors’ Cardiff office, said: “Department for Transport statistics show a rising number of cyclist deaths and casualties across Britain, and it’s clear from the Road Safety Wales statistics that Wales isn’t exempt from that worrying trend.

“We should welcome more cyclists and it isn’t good enough to say more cyclists means more injuries and deaths. There is an education job to be done for all road users but without implementation of long called for infrastructure improvements the number of cycle accidents will not decrease.”