Were you a proud owner of a cycling proficiency badge from primary school? These days you’re likely a machine on the Monday ride into work. Highly trained in bike safety from the age of 11, junctions and zebra crossings are no match for you. On the flipside, there are those of us for whom a commute by bike is a perilous journey, and who’d much rather spend an hour on the bus, thanks.
Turns out, 90 percent of Brits are scared to get on a bike in cities. Or at least, that what new research by bike subscription service Swapfiets has revealed. And the city that cyclists fear most of all? Sheffield. In a survey of 2,000 adults, 62 percent were nervous to ride around Sheff. Nottingham, Brighton, Plymouth and Cardiff followed closely behind.
The survey also discovered that people’s biggest fear when cycling on the road in getting hit by a car, with 68 percent citing it as their main concern. Other big fears included road rage, having your bike stolen and getting lost.
Swapfiets say that the survey results show a need to do more to convince people to choose an eco-friendly way to travel around.
Rory MacPhee, UK Country Manager at Swapfiets, said: ‘The findings of our study are a wake-up call. With over 90% of the nation fearing urban cycling and projected failures to meet 2030 net zero targets, it's clear that current efforts are falling short.
‘We're calling on the government to not only reinstate but increase the active travel budget in October. Improved cycling infrastructure and education are critical to overcoming the barriers that prevent people from choosing sustainable transport options.’
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