Cyclists wait at traffic lights in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Compared to 2021, cycling levels in England rose by 47% on weekdays and 27% on weekends in the five months to the end of July, according to the latest statistics from the U.K.’s Department for Transport.
Charitable membership organisation Cycling UK is using the rise in cycle usage to urge local authorities and employers to do more to help people drive less and cycle more, particularly for short everyday journeys. 71% of all journeys made in the U.K. are under five miles.
Transport emissions make up 27% of all U.K. greenhouse gas emissions with car travel accounting for over half of this total. Going car free is one of the most impactful actions an individual can take to reduce their climate impact. A 2017 study found that having one fewer child led to of 58.6 tonnes CO2-equivalent (tCO2e) emission reductions per year. Living car-free led to 2.4 tCO2e savings per year while eschewing a roundtrip transatlantic flight avoid 1.6 tCO2e.
According to figures from the Department for Transport, cycling levels in England began to rise in March as the cost of fuel increased. As fuel prices reached record highs in July, cycling levels were even greater than those seen at the same period in 2020, when quieter roads during the pandemic encouraged many more people out on their bikes.
Cycling UK’s head of campaigns Duncan Dollimore said: “Rising fuel prices have triggered some people to think about their transport choices, switching some of their car journeys to cycling. To give people choice [in how they travel] we need local authorities to act now to make active travel a realistic option and help people keep moving.”
