The Times apologises after labelling graph of deaths and injuries TO cyclists as 'deaths and injuries caused BY cyclists'

The Times has apologised after labelling a graph of deaths and serious injuries suffered by cyclists in the UK as “deaths and serious injuries caused by cyclists in the UK”. The graph accompanied the newspaper’s article about a 73-year-old woman who died following a collision with a cyclist on London’s Oxford Street earlier this week.

The graph was first brought to the newspaper’s attention by Peter Stuart.

Dear @thetimes, this graph is unforgivably inaccurate. Cyclists have not caused even 1/10th the KSI listed here @WeAreCyclingUK @beztweets pic.twitter.com/DauwUvIE62

— Peter Stuart (@PeterStuart3) September 14, 2017

However, the mystery was soon unravelled. As cycling campaigner Bez put it:

Details schmetails. @thetimes pic.twitter.com/g421dRYdoz

— Bez (@beztweets) September 14, 2017

Mark Treasure also spotted a problem with a second graph.

They’ve added up all the minor injuries and presented them as KSIs. pic.twitter.com/dB1WhIUBUm

— Mark Treasure (@AsEasyAsRiding) September 14, 2017

After this was pointed out, The Times removed the graphs from the article, initially stating that this was due to “scaling errors” before eventually revising this to just plain old “errors”.

And we’re there! Sort of! pic.twitter.com/MnwZdaBon8

— Mark Treasure (@AsEasyAsRiding) September 14, 2017

Interactive news editor at The Times, Sam Joiner, apologised for what he said was an ‘honest mistake’.

2/2 As a cyclist myself it's very disappointing, and the charts were removed and the error acknowledged as soon as I was made aware

— Sam Joiner (@samjoiner) September 14, 2017