The number of overall accidents has fallen, while the number of accidents with serious injuries has risen in the last two years.
The number of cycling accidents in Kingston have decreased by over 17% overall in the last year, but serious injury accidents have increased by 35.3%, according to the Met Police data, obtained through an FOI request.
In the past three years, the number of bike accidents was highest in 2024, with 113 accidents, falling to 93 in 2025. Despite the fall in accidents overall in 2025, those which resulted in serious personal injuries rose by 35.3%.
The data refers to accidents reported to emergency services only.
The Met Police separated bike accidents into three categories: ‘Damage Only’, in which only damages to the vehicles involved were reported, ‘Personal Injury: Serious’ and ‘Personal Injury: Slight’. The emergency services classified the level of injuries into these categories after aiding the injured.
It was not clear from the data what has caused the rise in more serious injuries. The Met declined to comment.
Jon Fray, spokesperson for the Kingston Cyclists Campaign, a public organisation focused on promoting cycling throughout the borough said that “drivers were likely to blame”. Fray said the main safety issue for cyclists is “driving whilst distracted and driving too fast and too close to people on bikes”.
Slight injury accidents were the most common but fell 29% from 2024 to the following year. The vast majority of these occurred due to light crashes between bicycles and cars. From October to December 2025, every cycling accident reported had at least one bicycle and one car involved.
“Once a driver cut me off on a curve so close that I fell off my bike, and then he said it was my fault,” Fray said, illustrating one of his encounters with rough drivers.
Edward Sharpe, a Kingston University student, was injured after cycling over a speed bump going downhill.
“I was cycling at night going downhill and I must have missed a speed bump, and my face smashed into the road,” he said.
The cyclist blamed the accident on his lack of caution.
“It was my fault, and people who cycle at night should be extra careful,” he said.
Not all cyclists reported issues.
Another local cyclist Mike Chen lives near the Surbiton area and cycles everyday to work.
“Kingston is quite a safe place for cycling. I’ve noticed that most drivers are very considerate. When they see me on a bike, they usually slow down and let me go first, which I think is really great,” he said.
