The number of cyclists killed in 2009 fell to 104, a drop from the previous year.

The figures are revealed in the Department for Transport's recently released road casualties report.

While this is still too high, the fact that the figure is falling at the same time cycling sees a 4% increase in the number of miles travelled, has to be encouraging.

Less encouraging, though, is the fact that there were 2,606 seriously injured cyclists on our roads last year, a 6% increase on 2008 figures. Cyclists are the only road user group to see any such rise.

In total there were 17,064 reported cycling casualties last year, the majority suffering minor personal injuries. 

As there is a general sense that accidents are under reported, this could be the tip of an iceberg that is more difficult to estimate the size of than it would be for other road users.

The two main contributory factors for cycling accidents were:

• a failure to look properly – known amongst cyclists as SMIDSY – Sorry Mate I Didn't See You
• drivers passing too close when overtaking

Cycle campaign leader Dave Escandell said: "It'll come as no surprise to cyclists that these two contributory factors lead to the majority of cycling casualties on our roads.

"Experienced cyclists have long called for a mandatory minimum passing distance in the UK, something that provides greater protection than is currently afforded by the Highway Code.

"A large proportion of these will also like to see some form of presumed liability introduced here, too.''

Another factor to be considered when seeing an increase in cycle casualty figures, while those of other groups are declining, is the attitude of other motorists to cyclists. There's been a long held belief among cyclists that there's safety in numbers.

Until motor vehicle users see cyclists on our roads day-in-day-out, the way they drive in and around cyclists is unlikely to alter. Many groups have previously given advice to motorists about sharing the road with cyclists and there may only be a downward shift in the statistics once cyclists are seen as the legitimate road users they are.

20% of the reported cycle casualties were children aged 15 or under, but only 13% of cycle fatalities were children. The reported child casualties sees a drop of 59% from the 1994-98 average.

It's not clear how such a reduction has been achieved, leading some to presume that children are simply no longer taking up cycling in the numbers they once were.

Others have suggested that said reduction shows just how congested our roads have become in such a short period of time.

Cycling has increased across all age groups, and it may be that children are fearful of cycling on the road, preferring instead to potentially break the law and cycle on pavements.

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