Making rural road cycling safer and more comfortable in new SAFER partner project
Imagine cycling along a scenic rural road – the wind at your back, open skies above. Then you hear a vehicle approaching from behind. Will it pass safely? Will it keep its distance?
For many cyclists, this uncertainty is a daily concern – and a key reason why rural roads often feel off-limits. A new SAFER partner project aims to change that.
ComCy – Comfortable Overtaking of Cyclists on Rural Roads is a newly launched initiative funded by Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency, with the goal of improving overtaking behaviour by drivers on rural roads. The vision is clear: safer and more comfortable conditions will make rural cycling a viable and attractive option – leading to more sustainable mobility and healthier communities.
This SAFER partner project takes a multi-faceted approach. Using real-world traffic data, cyclist surveys, and contributions from cycling “citizen scientists” in both Sweden and the USA, researchers will assess current conditions and explore what measures work best. A new driver training concept for both car and heavy vehicle drivers will be developed, based on established educational methods.
Scaling and communication are also at the heart of ComCy. GIS-based modelling will show how measures can be rolled out more broadly, and a tailored communication strategy will ensure results reach both decision-makers and the public.
The project brings together a broad and experienced consortium of SAFER partners and collaborators, including:
VTI, Chalmers Urban Design and Planning, Volvo Group, Scania, If Insurance, KTH, POC, STR, the Swedish Transport Administration, Region Västra Götaland, Region Skåne, Visit Värmland, UC Berkeley, and the University of New Mexico.
- Project duration: May 2025 – April 2027
- Coordinator and contact: Katja Kircher, VTI
- Funding: Vinnova (SEK 5.5 million)
- Connection: Follow-up to “Cycling on rural roads – removing barriers”
By supporting more comfortable and predictable driver behaviour, ComCy aims to open up rural roads for cycling – making active mobility safer, more connected, and more accessible to all.
