Numbers up: A 2008 Melbourne City Council annual count found cyclists made up 9 per cent of commuters into the city. In 2014, that figure is 15 per cent. On some routes, such as Royal Parade, they make up 31 per cent of all vehicle traffic. On St Kilda Road, 26 per cent of city-bound morning commuters are cyclists.

Country and city: Monash University Accident Research Centre research shows that when a cyclist dies in the city it is more likely to be the result of a driver going at lower speed and turning. If a country cyclist dies they are most likely to have been rear-ended at high speed. Collisions usually spike in warmer months when more cyclists are on the roads.

Red light zone: Cyclists running red lights is a common complaint. A 2013 survey by Amy Gillett Foundation and Monash University research fellow Dr Marilyn Johnson found 63 per cent said they stopped for red lights and 37 per cent broke the law. But some argued there were mitigating circumstances. About a third of law breakers said it was safer than waiting for the green and going with the traffic. About one quarter said the inductive loop that triggers the lights did not detect their bicycle, prompting them to go through on red rather than waiting for a car to trigger the lights. About one in 10 said they had been through a red light at pedestrian crossings.

Heads up: A 2011 study by Dr Johnson of 4225 cyclists at 10 signalised intersections found 99.8 per cent wore helmets. Bicycle Network's Super Tuesday counts found similar numbers, but the network's Garry Brennan observed that in the inner north there was a propensity for some cyclists to feel the wind in their hair.

Being seen: About four years ago, a study of cyclists leaving Melbourne University found about 30 per cent did not have a bicycle light, but Mr Brennan said that figure may have improved with new bicycle lights that were easier to remove and keep safe from thieves. He said about 90 per cent of commuter cyclists had bike lights.