Deaths from bicycle accidents in Spain rose 20 per cent in 2010 over the previous year to total 67. In the same year there were 564 serious injuries from bicycle accidents.
This ranks Spain as the most dangerous country in Europe for bicycling, ahead of Ireland, Latvia and Belgium.
According to the report from the Mapfre Foundation’s Institute for Road safety cycling has increased in recent years because of the economic crisis, which may also explain the increase in cycling fatalities.
The Mapfre Foundation is sponsored by the Mapfre Insurance group and works in the fields of education, road, health and environmental safety.