The data also offers some insight into why the proportion of people choosing to ride has stagnated in Australia in recent years.

The ACT crash data heatmap is a useful addition to the debate over cycle lanes, cycle paths and where ACT government investment priorities should lie. It shows two clear trends. First, the more traffic in an area the more likely a cyclist is to crash, with Civic and the town centres showing the highest number of incidents. Second, major intersections are overwhelmingly the places where most of the crashes are happening.

Much of the debate about on-road cycle safety has centred around the attitude of drivers and cyclists. While there is little doubt that some drivers continue to believe cyclists have no legitimate place on roads and some cyclists are not following the road rules, the high number of intersection crashes also suggests that simple error, unintended clashes at places where traffic interactions are at their most complicated, may also account for many of the accidents.

The 2013 National Cycling Participation Survey also shows that overall cycling participation rates are stagnating at a time where governments are trying to combat ballooning obesity rates by encouraging more active forms of transport.

The inescapable conclusion from these two pieces of information is that many potential cyclists are being put off by the thought of dealing with riding in traffic. If we want to encourage those less likely to ride to get out of their cars, we are not going to do it without providing segregated, dedicated lanes where they are not competing with other vehicles for space.

The ACT continues to outperform the rest of the country in terms of cycling participation. It has also shown a commitment to invest in quality dedicated cycling infrastructure, like the recently opened Majura cycleway and the Civic cycle loop.

But the data shows those most likely to ride are probably already doing so. If the government wants to increase the number of people on bikes, it is not going to achieve that aim through on-road cycle lanes where less confident riders feel intimidated by mixing with traffic, unless there are clear physical barriers separating the lanes.

Building segregated cycling infrastructure is expensive, but also offers a measurable decrease in the number of people getting injured. Unlike Sydney or Melbourne, Canberra has a unique opportunity to build safe, separate cycling infrastructure off the backbone of a good existing cycle path network.

The challenge for the government will be to continue the work it has already started in expanding that network, and taking opportunities like the construction of new suburbs in Molonglo and the remodelling of Northbourne Avenue to put in quality, well-planned cycling infrastructure from the start, rather than trying to retrofit it to existing roads. Not only will the benefits be measured in fewer people getting hurt, it will also help reduce congestion on the roads and make it safer for Canberrans to be active.