52% of drivers believe it is difficult to spot cyclists during the dark winter months

52% of drivers in Latvia believe that it is difficult to spot cyclists on the road during the dark months of the year, according to a survey* conducted by BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS (hereinafter – BTA) and the research agency Norstat Latvija. Another 44% of respondents indicate that cyclists can only be seen with reflectors, but there is definitely room for improvement in their use. As revealed by Oskars Zvejnieks, Director of the Underwriting Department at BTA, this year car owners have received 27 indemnity payments for CASCO cases involving cyclists, with the average insurance indemnity reaching EUR 1,426. Meanwhile, bicycle owners have suffered the greatest losses due to bicycle theft. 

The most expensive CASCO indemnity for "cyclist overtaking" – €5,356 

Survey data shows that more than half (52%) of drivers are convinced that you cannot spot cyclists on the road during the dark months of the year. 44% admit that they can only be noticed if reflectors are used, but there is room for improvement in their use. Only 2% believe that cyclists are clearly visible during the dark months. 1% claim that cyclists are not visible, and that they have even been involved in collisions with cyclists. 2% noted that it is difficult to answer this question. 

Meanwhile, BTA's largest CASCO insurance payout this year involving a cyclist was for a collision between two cars in Riga, which occurred when overtaking a cyclist, amounting to €5,356. According to O. Zvejnieks, in this case, one car swerved while trying to overtake the cyclist, causing a collision with another vehicle. The collision damaged the front left side of the car, the entire bodywork, the windshield, and the headlights. In another case, a cyclist overtaking a bus in the right lane turned left and collided with a car, damaging and scratching the entire left side of the car, the left mirror, the grille, etc. – indemnity of €3,454 was paid for this case. 

"Although the use of reflectors is vitally important, as cyclists are less protected road users, whether a collision will actually occur depends on a number of factors – these are determined not only by the visibility of the cyclist, but also by the driving culture and skills of both road users and the condition of the road. Unfortunately, when it comes to damage caused to vehicles in such accidents, the repair costs can run into thousands of euros – if the car does not have CASCO insurance, this results in large, unplanned expenses. It should also be mentioned that, with labour costs rising in the market, the prices of services have increased significantly," says O. Zvejnieks. 

Dents, broken mirrors, damaged bumpers – the most common car damage in collisions with cyclists 

A total of 27 CASCO insurance claims has been made this year for damage to cars involving cyclists, with the average claim amount reaching €1,426. In collisions between cyclists and cars, the most common damage to the vehicle is to the front and sides – scratches to the paintwork, dents, damage to the bonnet and bumper, broken headlights, broken mirrors, damaged car doors, etc. 

"The range of damage costs caused by a collision with a cyclist can vary from a few hundred to several thousand euros. Even a minor collision without casualties can result in expensive damage to car sensors or a series of minor damages, which will ultimately cost a considerable amount of money if insurance has not been taken out. Situations that cause major losses are also "as different as the colours of the rainbow," and they are not always related to the driver's driving skills," says O. Zvejnieks. 

For example, this year BTA also received a claim where the driver himself damaged his car with his own bicycle. Namely, the bicycle was attached to the roof of the car, which the driver forgot about – when entering the parking lot of a store located under the roof, the bicycle was torn off with all its fastenings, damaging the bicycle, fastenings, car roof, and trunk door. BTA paid out CASCO indemnity of EUR 3,661 for this incident. 

Most expensive insurance claims in bicycle insurance are for stolen bicycles 

In total, 33 claims have been made with BTA Bicycle Insurance this year, with the average insurance indemnity amounting to EUR 306. The most expensive indemnity paid was for a stolen bicycle – EUR 1,269. In another case in Riga, a bicycle owner rode his bicycle to the intersection of Pērnavas and Zvaigžņu streets, parked his bicycle there, locking it to a road sign, and continued his journey in his car. Later, it was discovered that the bicycle had been stolen, for which an indemnity of €700 was paid. 

"For people who use bicycles for everyday mobility, especially in urban areas, it is not just a means of transport – it is often a lifestyle. Insurance claims reported to BTA show that bicycle thefts often occur when the risk seems low – for example, at home or at work, where the bicycle is left only for a short time, or in places where the owner has regularly left the bicycle before, etc. However, even if the bicycle is carefully locked, this unfortunately does not guarantee complete security. It should be noted that thieves may also choose to steal bicycle parts — brake systems, handlebars, tires, etc. Nowadays, bicycles are worth several hundred or even thousands of euros, so it is advisable to protect such expensive property with bicycle insurance," concludes O. Zvejnieks. 

The survey was conducted in October 2025 by BTA and Norstat Latvia, and 752 Latvian drivers aged 18 to 74 participated in it.