The importance of safety on the bicycle friendliness of cities

In the framework of questions like climate protection, healthy lifestyles and more livable cities it is important to increase cycle use and replace motorized traffic. Safe cycling is one of the preconditions for the growth of cycle use, especially considering the more vulnerable user groups. But how important is safety in relation to other factors influencing bicycle friendliness like comfort of the cycle path and bike parking, accessibility or communication? And how is the relation between 'objective safety' - represented by the number of recorded accidents - and 'subjective safety' as the perceived safety feeling ofthe bike users? [From: Introduction