Cars and bikes share the same asphalt every day, but too often they see it from two opposite points of view. From this awareness the "Same Road" project is born, promoted by Quattroruote, the Italian Cycling Federation and Škoda Italy dedicated to safety and coexistence between motorists and cyclists, presented today to the press and stakeholders at the Automotive Safety Center in Vairano, with the participation of ACI and the State Police.

The starting point is the numbers: according to ACI-Istat data, in 2025 road fatalities in Italy fell to 2,868 (-5.3% compared to 2024), but among cyclists the trend is opposite: 228 deaths, 23.2% more than the previous year, of which 30 on e-bikes (+50%). The issue of coexistence between drivers and cyclists is therefore increasingly relevant, even in public debate, where a clear opposition between the two categories tends to prevail. However, a problem of this magnitude cannot be addressed by one side alone and must be managed together.

The "Same Road" project is born precisely from a conviction shared by the three promoters: safety is built through mutual respect and awareness of one's role. Three entities with different perspectives choose to collaborate on the same objective: Quattroruote, a reference point for drivers for seventy years, with the technical expertise of its Test Center and the Vairano track; the Italian Cycling Federation, the voice of those who pedal, from competitive cycling to everyday bicycle use; Škoda Italy, an automotive brand at the top of the European market that traces its origins to bicycles and brings to the project the perspective of an automotive company always committed to safety. A collaborative project that is also supported by ACI and the State Police.

SURVEY DATA
The initiative starts from a survey conducted by Quattroruote and the Italian Cycling Federation on a panel of motorists and cyclists with over 4,000 respondents. The sample reflects a reality often overlooked: almost one in two respondents, 48%, regularly uses both a car and a bicycle.

The first finding is a harsh judgment on the state of Italian roads. Perceived safety stands at 3.5 out of 10, and more than half of the sample (53.9%) gives a rating between 0 and 3. Clear, however, is the distance in perception of danger. Cyclists measure their own risk level at 8.4, compared to 5.4 indicated by motorists. The causes cited are also different. Drivers point the finger mainly at cyclist infractions, such as running red lights or riding against traffic (86.3%), and riding style, from riding side by side to occupying the center of the road (63.1%). Cyclists, on the other hand, report the risk of smartphone use while driving (73.9%) and failure to yield (72.4%).

A distance that is also found in the answer to the question "who should adapt?". Among motorists, 53.1% call for equal effort from both parties and 28.9% more training for cyclists. Among cyclists, 66.2% believe that motorists should primarily adapt, while only 34.1% support 30 km/h zones in urban centers.

The two perspectives converge, however, on solutions. The measure considered most effective is more road education for everyone, indicated by 64.6% of respondents: it is a cross-cutting finding that brings cyclists (62.9%) and motorists (67.5%) into agreement. This is followed by infrastructure and separate, continuous, well-designed bike lanes (45.1%), and greater controls and sanctions, with a stronger presence of law enforcement (42.2%).

Common ground also emerges on the level of values. 53.8% of respondents indicate respect as the guiding principle of coexistence on the road. 68.2% believe coexistence between cars and bikes is absolutely possible. The message from the survey is clear: the road is a shared space where empathy and mutual understanding make the difference.

A TECHNICAL ROUNDTABLE
Starting precisely from these points of contact, the "Same Road" project opens a technical roundtable involving all protagonists of mobility: manufacturers, the bicycle world, media, institutions and law enforcement, with the contribution of ACI and the State Police. During 2027, the roundtable will produce a series of analyses with the aim of sharing a manifesto of proposals to submit to institutions as a concrete contribution to safer roads for everyone.

"The debate between motorists and cyclists has taken on the character of an identity clash: people take sides and look for a culprit on the other side. But confrontations have never made an intersection safer nor saved a cyclist, and meanwhile deaths among those who pedal have increased. As a media outlet, we feel the responsibility not to fuel partisan divisions, and our survey indicates that coexistence is possible because drivers and cyclists report the same need: more road education for everyone. With the "Same Road" project, we want to start a process to find concrete and shared solutions" declares Alessandro Lago, director of Quattroruote.

"Road safety is a shared responsibility and cannot be addressed by pitting motorists against cyclists. Respect for the rules, attention and education are fundamental to building safer coexistence. As the Italian Cycling Federation, we believe in the importance of promoting a safety culture that involves all road users. The "Same Road" project represents a concrete opportunity to overcome confrontation, foster dialogue and identify shared solutions, with the goal of protecting cyclists and making our roads safer for everyone" declares Cordiano Dagnoni, President of the Italian Cycling Federation.

"For Škoda, safety is essential in automobile design. Active driving assistance systems, standard on the entire range, help protect the most vulnerable users, without replacing the responsibility and education of those moving on two or four wheels. Promoting the spread of vehicles equipped with these systems can produce immediate and positive effects on the safety of motorists, pedestrians and cyclists" declares Andrea Calcagni, Director of Škoda Italy.

"The State Police enthusiastically supports the "Same Road" project, bringing its contribution of experience and professionalism in control activities, prevention and promotion of a road safety culture that puts people at the center. Everyone must enter the mobility system with respect and a sense of responsibility, making an effort to broaden their perspective. Technology helps us prevent and limit human error, but influencing actions and behaviors remains crucial to ensuring the safety of all users" declares Federica Deledda, Senior Manager of the State Police, Head of the Road Police Section in Milan.

"Mutual respect among all road users and strict compliance with traffic regulations are essential elements for responsible and conscious mobility. ACI enthusiastically supports the "Same Road" initiative, which has high educational and training value thanks to the synergistic action of important public and private stakeholders. Motorists and cyclists are not antagonists, but co-users of the same road environment, to be shared with respect and harmony. Not by chance, #respecteachother was a successful awareness campaign launched by the Italian Automobile Club on the occasion of various editions of the Giro d'Italia. Road mortality is declining and for the first time in the country there are fewer than 3,000 deaths from accidents: this demonstrates that truly safe mobility is an achievable goal with the constant commitment of everyone" declares Geronimo La Russa, President of the Italian Automobile Club - ACI.

The day continued on the track with the Škoda Safety Experience, demonstration sessions dedicated to Škoda driving assistance systems and safety technologies, and with the Škoda Bike Challenge, an event that transformed the message conveyed by "Same Road" into an experience with high engagement: the first endurance cycling team competition held on the Vairano track, where cars and bikes truly shared the same road. For the occasion, Filippo Ganna also came to Vairano: the world champion, fresh from gold in the Mixed Team Relay at the Montreal road world championships and bronze at the Shanghai track world championships, chose to participate to testify to his attention to the issue of road safety and raise awareness of the importance of coexistence between motorists and cyclists, accompanied by Italian rider Matteo Sobrero. Alongside them were Claudia Peretti, Carlotta Borello and Stefano Goria, cyclocross and mountain bike athletes, together with Mirko Celestino, Technical Commissioner of the Italian national mountain bike team and former road professional. Their participation underscores how safety is a cross-cutting issue for all cycling disciplines and involves the entire movement, from established champions to athletes engaged daily on the roads.