"Without proper infrastructure and education, we risk an increase in accidents involving cyclists" - says Piotr Kalisz, who will serve as the new "cyclist advocate" in the Ministry of Infrastructure. Kalisz won a ministry-run competition and has been appointed as the Minister of Infrastructure's Plenipotentiary for Bicycle Traffic.
Minister Dariusz Klimczak highlighted at a press conference regarding the appointment that cycling in Poland is steadily increasing. "For example, in Warsaw, we see about 200,000 cycling trips per day" - he said.
According to Klimczak, improving safety is a crucial task. The plenipotentiary will not only assess existing infrastructure and work on a cycling strategy but also recommend changes to regulations and support the search for funding for investments. One of the key topics will be utilizing European funds to develop cycling infrastructure.
"Bicycles in Poland should bring people together. We know there are tensions between cyclists and drivers, but bicycles should unite us" - said the minister.
Kalisz, originally from Katowice, has previously worked as the plenipotentiary for cycling policy for the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship. He has been active in the Rowerowe Katowice association for 10 years. At the conference, he mentioned that he had also lived in the Netherlands and other countries, where he gained experience in bicycle traffic management.
Educating Both Drivers and Cyclists
During the conference, we asked the new plenipotentiary about what should be done to improve cyclist safety. In 2023, there were 3,600 accidents involving cyclists in Poland, resulting in 154 fatalities. Cyclists were at fault in one-third of these accidents, with the majority being caused by car drivers.
According to Piotr Kalisz, the key to improving safety is educating both drivers and cyclists, as well as providing appropriate infrastructure.
Here in Warsaw, for instance, it's often heard that a cyclist cuts off a pedestrian or even scolds an elderly person for crossing in front of them. Such incidents shouldn't happen. Cyclists must be aware of their rights, but also their limitations and responsibilities
- he said. He emphasized that cyclists need to adjust their speed based on road design and conditions, such as a high number of pedestrians:
If a road is designed for speeds of 15-20 km/h, a cyclist riding at 30 km/h cannot expect the road to meet their needs. If they want to ride fast, they need to do so outside the city or on appropriately designed, wider roads. Just like a car driver shouldn't drive 50 km/h on a road where the speed limit is below 30 km/h.
On the other hand, educating drivers must go hand in hand with developing cycling infrastructure. "Drivers often stick to their regular routes, ignoring signs, and are surprised when a cyclist appears, riding correctly" - Kalisz pointed out. He believes education for both drivers and cyclists is essential to prevent more accidents as cycling traffic increases.
Regarding infrastructure, Kalisz highlighted the need to adapt it to the latest regulations and guidelines, ensuring proper separation of traffic. In his view, shared pedestrian and bicycle paths should be a last resort, but he also warned against artificially creating bike lanes in spaces that are too narrow.
Among other priorities, the new plenipotentiary mentioned the development of regulations to speed up the construction of cycling infrastructure, better cooperation in Europe, and support for local governments.
"We can tap into significant EU funds, but to do so, we need clear and straightforward regulations" - he said, adding, "We must prepare for the new EU budget perspective".
