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news
Hyde Park Corner 2.JPG5 million "inspired to buy bike" in past year, says British Cycling
New research from British Cycling suggests that since the first national lockdown came into effect in March last year, more than 5 million Britons “have been inspired” to buy a bike, providing further confirmation of the boost that the pandemic has given to using two wheels to get around.
The survey of 2,0002 UK adults aged 18-plus and 500 key workers aged 18-plus, carried out by Censuswide from 23-31 March 2021, also found that 11 per cent of respondents plan to commute by bike when they return to work.
But with an estimated 20 million people saying that they expect to travel to work by car once restrictions are eased, HSBC and British Cycling are calling for safer routes for those aiming to get to their workplace by bike.
The research also found that 34 per cent of people were motivated to cycle due to the mental health benefits, and 44 per cent to help with their physical fitness.
The survey of 2,0002 UK adults aged 18-plus and 500 key workers aged 18-plus was carried out by Censuswide from 23-31 March.
Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic champion and HSBC UK and British Cycling partnership ambassador, commented, “Many people are held back from cycling by thinking their commute is too long (26 per cent) or they aren’t fit enough, but no matter what your fitness level, you’ll surprise yourself and be able to cycle five miles – which takes about 30-45 minutes.
With 30 per cent of respondents citing concerns over safety on the roads while cycling, Hoy has provided some safety tips for novices, which can be found here.
“With the right planning and preparation, cycling could be the answer for a quicker commute that helps you get fitter, healthier and greener,” he added.
Other findings of the survey include that commuters worry about taking public transport, with 41 per cent expressing concern regarding being in an overcrowded space and 36 per cent on touching shared surfaces.
Sam Robson, Head of the HSBC UK and British Cycling partnership, said: “Building back from the pandemic is a pivotal moment to make cycling a sustained lifestyle choice, with employers playing an important role in helping their people choose cycling as part of their commute.
“In fact, more than a third (36 per cent) of key workers who have continued to commute through the pandemic would be more likely to cycle to work if initiatives and facilities were actively provided by their employer.
“Through the partnership we have inspired more than 2 million people to get on their bike, including over 10,000 colleagues using our Get Active digital hub, and we hope to encourage even more people as part of the UK’s recovery and return to the workplace.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- chrisonabike 3 sec ago
That would not withstand challenges given it's an "advisory cycle lane". So not illegal to drive or park in. In fact in many cases it would make...
- matthewn5 22 min 40 sec ago
A friend in my cycling club has a new Ribble Allroad, I think the model with 105, and when I asked how he was finding it (before reading this...
- Rendel Harris 31 min 45 sec ago
Well yes but that's if you're looking at an equation x = n x 3 where n is any number less than 5. If you're looking for a number that is three...
- check12 1 hour 49 min ago
Get them back? They've never gone away for me, cheap tdf winning bikes on eBay with rim brakes and cheap rim brake aero wheels, just don't tell...
- Simon E 2 hours 32 min ago
It used to be called Buy Nothing Day as a protest against the the Black Friday discounting madness. The constant BF adverts, promos and stuff...
- chrisonabike 4 hours 47 min ago
Apologies - you're quite right! Something about presentation and comprehension...
- wtjs 5 hours 8 min ago
You can find out whether they're lying about 'taking action' by asking them what they actually did. When they refuse to tell you, citing various...
- chrisonabike 9 hours 53 min ago
Also don't forget - Sustrans are a charity *....
- chrisonabike 10 hours 4 min ago
Yes ... but (just due to the large numbers of people affected) this likely would only proceed in the UK at a very ... cautious ... pace....
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9 comments
How does this get published?
I think the word is 'splurged', rather than 'published'.
"5 million "inspired to buy bike" in past year......"
And 4.9 million will put the bike away in the shed, never to be seen again, when motorised traffic returns to normal and they get 10 close passes every trip.
Traffic went up lots last week, far more impatience from the motorists, more close passes and far too many passes with oncoming vehicles.
But the off road part of the commute is wonderful, lots of fresh greens on the trees, active wildlife including angry geese, and bluebells, lots of bluebells.
I know many people on road.cc said that during lockdown, whereas traffic decreased, some of the remaining drivers simply used the opportunity to drive ever faster, to the discomfort of cyclists. Now we have quantitative support for that anecdotal observation:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/26/lockdown-did-not-red...
This comment is worth reading:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/26/lockdown-did-not-red...
I disagree. 4.9 million are still waiting for their new bike, after the delivery date keeps getting put back...
Possibly more truth here than you suspect. I'll try to dig up the source*, but I do remember reading that the major component manufacturers have been mulling over whether to risk investing in new production capacity, worried that it could leave them overinvested if the boom proves to be temporary. So capacity is still no greater than pre-covid demand levels required, which presumably means those 5 million bikes are indeed 4.9 million more than production is geared for.
*Edit: of course, it was on these very pages:
https://road.cc/content/feature/britains-bike-shortage-why-you-still-nee...
I knew I had read it in some reputable news source somewhere
Well if I were them I wouldnt make any decisions based on this nonsense of a survey.
I know British Cycling like to publish this stuff to prove they are doing something to help boost cycling, but the industries own stats show at the height of cycling mania around 2012, only 4 million bikes were getting sold annually, so a survey that says suddenly 5 million bikes have been sold should instantly ring alarm bells as being an order of magnitude out...much like the sample size is it 2000 or 20,000 ?
I saw a traffic survey published today which suggested the roads are back to pre-pandemic levels,though rush hour levels arent, so where are these 5million bikes ? In the shed still ?