Kamikaze cyclists: the war over roundabouts

Kamikaze cyclists: the numbers behind an impossible coexistence

Two cyclists are killed at 08:45 on a road; a third, who was riding on the hard shoulder, walks away unharmed. The anecdote, published in Las Provincias, sums up years of tension between drivers and cycling enthusiasts. Bikes have become just another element of the asphalt jungle, and the debate over who is to blame repeats itself every weekend.

The case that illustrates it

Three cyclists ride in the early hours, dressed entirely in black, on a stretch with no bike lane. A vehicle runs them down from behind: two die, one survives because he had hugged the hard shoulder. The scene reflects a reality: many cyclists choose low-visibility hours and dark clothing, while drivers complain about unpredictable manoeuvres at roundabouts and when overtaking.

Infrastructure or behaviour

While some call for mandatory bike lanes, others point out that urban delivery riders are even more dangerous. Spain's traffic authority, the DGT, insists on the 1.5-metre safe passing distance and on not overtaking on bends, but daily life shows the rule is systematically ignored. And at the centre of the debate, one question: is it better to build more infrastructure or demand more responsibility from cyclists and drivers?

A coexistence that never arrives

With bikes costing over 3,000 euros and cars seeing the cyclist as an obstacle, the road has become a battlefield. Fatal accidents keep happening, and solutions seem nowhere in sight. Until the problem is tackled at its root — whether with more bike lanes or awareness campaigns — roundabouts will remain the scene of confrontations.

Is it possible to share the asphalt without reaching such extremes? The data show there is a long way to go.