Downhill, a curve and gravel. It can be a recipe for a fatal bicycle accident at any time of year, but especially in spring when municipalities haven't had time to remove winter gravel.
According to Anna Niska, every fifth single-bicycle accident during March is linked to gravel, which P4 Östergötland previously reported.
We have these types of accidents all year round, with gravel left over from work, for example. But March and April stand out, says Anna Niska, research leader at VTI (Swedish Road and Transport Research Institute).
The problem is that the gravel accumulates during the winter, so quite large amounts can remain when the snow melts away.
Moreover, it's not just cyclists who are in danger. Electric scooter riders - and pedestrians - can also have problems on the gravel.
According to Anna Niska, the gravel should therefore be swept away as soon as possible in the spring - and preferably also swept away if there are longer periods of bare ground during the winter.
There are also other things connected to the gravel, such as particle formation, which is a big problem in cities. When gravel from the cycle paths falls onto the road, it is ground up and becomes particles, she says.
