Over the past decade, cycling has seen a surge in popularity around the world. From commuters choosing to bike to work, to families opting for a leisurely ride on the weekends, to hardcore cyclists taking on long-distance challenges, the benefits of cycling are becoming increasingly recognised. But beyond the physical and mental health benefits, the growing popularity of cycling has the potential to make a significant impact on the environment.
Key Information:
- 2022 has been a year for getting back outdoors, following two years of finding ways to keep at home. As a result, cycling has risen by (+100%)
- Bike and e-bike sales hit a UK high of £1.25bn in 2021 – £400m higher than in 2019.
- In the UK, the number of people cycling increased by 29% during the COVID lockdown and hasn’t shown any dramatic decline since.
- Research from Swinnertons cycles has revealed that ‘Cycling to work’ has increased by 13% compared to 2022.
- There has been an increase of 79% in Google searches of ‘Will cycling help climate change’.
- 42% increase in Google searches of ‘Cycling to reduce carbon footprint’ compared to last year.
- 75% of people in the UK worried about climate change with UK residents seeking greener ways of transportation.
With the pandemic preventing people from exercising in gyms, pools and other sports this led to a big increase of people getting their bikes out of the garage dusting off the cobwebs and getting back out there on their bikes. This resulted from the pandemic influencing people to cycle to get fit. This trend has continued into 2023 with cycling being rated the third most popular form of exercise. 2000 UK adults were asked, ‘which form of exercise, if any, do you most enjoy?’ 11.4% of respondents voted cycling as their favourite.
London’s walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, said: “It’s great to see that the boom in walking and cycling we saw during the pandemic has continued as more Londoners enjoy using sustainable ways to get around the capital”.
Key factors such as climate change have also made cycling more popular when it was revealed how much each person could reduce their carbon footprint by biking over their car. With a dramatic increase in Google searches for ‘cycling to help climate change’ and ‘cycling to reduce carbon footprint’, UK adults are seeking the greenest ways to travel. With shops selling quality road cycle tyres as well, it’s making commuting via cycling a very easy task.
What has resulted from this cycling trend?
With cycling becoming more popular, more of the UK’s work population is choosing this method of transport to commute to work. 6.7% of the UK’s working population is now commuting by bike.
Bike and e-bike sales hit a UK high of £1.25bn in 2021 – £400m higher than in 2019, according to researchers at Mintel, who point to a trend for ‘fake commutes’ where the WFH crowd use runs and rides to bookend their workdays.
Another impact this has had on the UK is climate concerns and unaffordable travel costs, the #bikelife movement is likely to gather speed. With Around 180,000 people a year participating in the cycle-to-work scheme operated by employers, it is clear the UK workforce is seeking a healthier, more sustainable and affordable method of commuting.
Swapping the car for walking, cycling and e-biking, even just one day a week, significantly impacts personal carbon emissions in cities. Another benefit of cycling is that it takes up significantly less space than cars. As cities worldwide continue to grow, space is becoming increasingly scarce. The more people choose to bike instead of drive, the less space is needed for parking lots and roads. This opens up new opportunities for green spaces, bike lanes, and pedestrian areas, all of which can improve the quality of life in urban areas.
Lead researcher Dr Christian Brand, from the University of Oxford, said: “We found that those who switch just one trip per day from car driving to cycling reduce their carbon footprint by about 0.5 tonnes over a year.
With the research proving that switching from car driving to cycling reduces their carbon footprint, it is clear the popularity of cycling will continue to increase, with three-quarters of adults in the UK worrying about climate change.
This, combined with the rise in Google searches around this topic has shown that UK adults want to reduce their carbon footprint and are seeking solutions on how to travel the greenest way possible.
Paul Swinnerton
Owner of Swinnerton Cycles, former pro ex british cyclist has added comments regarding the growing popularity of cycling.
We’ve seen a huge growth in how popular cycling has become since the pandemic and this trend is still continuing. The UK is more aware of how cycling can not only improve their own health but also the planet’s health as we see more consumers seeking greener ways to travel. Factors such as climate change have contributed to more people opting to cycle journeys rather than take their car. This combined with the health benefits has been huge to the popularity of our bike shop here in Stoke-on-Trent and we don’t see this trend slowing down.
In conclusion, the growing popularity of cycling has the potential to make a significant impact on the environment. By reducing air and noise pollution, taking up less space, and promoting physical activity, cycling is a win-win for both people and the planet. As more people begin to recognise the benefits of cycling, we can look forward to a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle