Ahead of Cycle to Work Day on August 4, Cycling UK has released analysis of transport data in England, which reports that more people in England are turning to cycling as a result of the rising costs of fuel.
The published figures say that, on average between March and July this year, weekday cycling levels have been 47% higher, with weekends and holidays seeing a 27% growth, compared to the same period in 2021.
The cycling charity is calling on local authorities and employers to do better in encouraging people to switch from private vehicles and cars to bikes, especially for short journeys.
According to data from the Department for Transport (DfT), the number of cyclists started to increase in March this year.
Cycling UK claims, as fuel prices hit record highs in July, even more people were using bikes than during July 2020, when quieter roads encouraged more people to take up cycling.
Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at Cycling UK, said: “Rising fuel prices have triggered some people to think about their transport choices, switching some of their car journeys to cycling.
“But too many people don’t feel like they have that option because they don’t think our roads are safe enough to cycle on.
“The answer to that is more and better infrastructure for cycling and walking, giving more people the opportunity to do so safely rather than default to driving a short trip to work or the shops.
“But to give people that choice we need local authorities to act now to make active travel a realistic option and help people keep moving.”
Cycling UK aims to assist workplaces which want to encourage their staff to commute by bike through the Cycle Friendly Employer accreditation.
Some other programmes it offers include the Big Bike Revival, a community event scheme to promote cycling across the UK, commuting, maintenance and financial advice services related to bike ownership and video maintenance guides.
