Concerns about accidents and the Great British weather mean just 9% of working Brits currently cycle to work, new research from Ribble Cycles shows. The YouGov poll of 1,143 workers explored attitudes to cycling and what puts commuters off jumping on their bike for the journey to work.
Despite the list of benefits associated with cycling, like reduced travel costs, improved fitness levels and a low environmental impact, a huge 87% of those polled do not cycle to work. Cycling rates were lowest among the 18 to 24 year old age group, with just 2% of this group currently cycling to work. Men are more than twice as likely as women to cycle to work, at 13% and 5% respectively.
Following a winter of flooding and strong gales, weather conditions were a key reason against cycling to work for one in five of non-cyclists polled, while lack of cycle lanes was a reason for 16% of these respondents. Distance to work was the top reason for not cycling to work, with 42% claiming they live too far away to cycle to work.
For a quarter of respondents who don't cycle to work, a lack of confidence in their cycling abilities was a key reason (25%). Women were more than twice as likely to lack this confidence here than men, at 34% and 15% respectively. A relatively high percentage of respondents (26%) said they were worried about having an accident while on their bike, with Londoners most concerned about accidents (39%).
Cycling to work has many benefits on both the pocket and the body. Of those surveyed who do cycle to work, 83% stated that cycling helps them to improve their health and fitness and 61% claim it reduces their transport costs. Train fares increased by an average of 1.1% this year, while petrol and diesel prices currently remain around the £1 mark, with further price rises forecasted.
Matthew Lawson, Chief Marketing Officer, at Ribble Cycles said "It seems Britain is getting left behind when it comes to the cycling revolution. While residents of European capitals, such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, have fully embraced travelling on two wheels, the traffic levels in our own capital put Londoners off cycling to work for fear of having an accident."
"There are many schemes out there aimed at helping people build their cycling confidence, and with the introduction of more cycling lanes and cycling superhighways within our key cities, hopefully this will make cycling a more accessible commuter option, helping to dramatically reduce city pollution and congestion."
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