The number of cyclists in the UK has increased by more than 70 per cent since the turn of the millennium – an encouraging statistic and one that will hopefully rise even further after Tour de France fever sweeps the UK this summer. Yet while the number people taking to their bikes has been rising at a rapid rate, the number of cyclists involved in serious accidents or killed has apparently fallen by around a quarter over a similar period.

Although such statistics are trumpeted by the authorities as a great triumph, I can’t help doubting whether these figures bear any resemblance to the truth.

The army of cyclists who have taken to the roads over the past few years are often inexperienced when it comes to urban biking. Furthermore, although facilities are improving for younger cyclists, there is still very little encouragement to get cyclists to undergo any training before they take the roads.

While the cycling infrastructure has improved in the capital – with many more miles of cycle paths helping to keep cyclists out of the way of the traffic – I regularly receive emails from readers pointing out that facilities outside of London are nowhere near as good.

And while most cycling lanes have served to increase cycling safety, there are still plenty of examples where cycle lanes put riders at greater danger than if they simply took up a position in the middle of the road and held their ground.

How then, is it possible that the number of serious accidents has decreased?

The most likely explanation is that many accidents simply fall below the radar of the statistics – and that statistics for "serious injury" only include those who are left hanging on to life by a thread.

I've witnessed a handful accidents in London over the past few years, many of which, I'm sad to say, could have been prevented if the cyclist had been more careful. Although these have not always resulted in ambulances being rushed to the scene, the cyclists involved usually look quite some pain, and no doubt left, at the least, nursing some muscular or joint injury that may take several weeks or months to heal

The only collision I've had on the roads so was with another cyclist, who turned straight my path without looking see if there was anyone coming. I fractured wrist and it took many months to heal properly. Probably not a "serious" injury as far as the stats are concerned, but enough to keep me action for a few weeks.

I imagine that injuries are only classified as serious when the cyclist ends up in intensive care. However, if these sorts serious accidents are genuinely on the decrease, then the number of and "quite serious" accidents must have increased quite substantially the past few years.

Whatever the truth, it's been good to see the authorities seizing initiative over the past weeks, and taking steps improve safety for cyclists. In the capital, they have launched poster campaign warning cyclists and lorry drivers to take more care around each other, and the mayor is also working with several companies to ensure that they put cyclist warning stickers on the rear their lorries.

There's much further go, however, particularly outside of the capital. A national public safety campaign about cycling may not be a bad idea, further encouragement cyclists to undergo training before they to the roads would make sense.

Although it would be practical to make cycling proficiency mandatory for adults, getting cycle training on the national curriculum would be an excellent of creating a generation safer cyclists.