What characterizes bicycle and e-scooter accidents not included in official accident statistics? Lessons learned from the ReCyCLIST project in Agder, Norway

This study explores the characteristics of bicycle, e-bike, and e-scooter accidents that are not included in official Norwegian accident statistics, focusing on findings from the ReCyCLIST project in Agder County. Traditional accident reporting systems overlook most incidents involving vulnerable road users (VRUs), particularly single accidents, which represent the majority of such cases. ReCyCLIST introduced a digital self-reporting tool deployed in hospitals and clinics, collecting 671 accident cases between June 2022 and April 2024. The study analyses 487 incidents that occurred in traffic environments, revealing that 73% were single accidents, predominantly caused by infrastructure issues or loss of balance, rather than collisions. The data also highlight demographic differences in accident patterns by age, gender, and vehicle type. Notably, women were more frequently involved in e-scooter accidents, and men were overrepresented in racing bike collisions. Multivariate analysis shows that vehicle type, especially racing bikes, is a strong predictor of collisions. The findings emphasize the critical role of underreported single accidents and provide actionable insights for urban planning and policy development aimed at improving micromobility safety.