By Jak Phillips, Oct 22, 2015
Top Tories such as Boris Johnson and David Cameron are well-known fans of cycling, but the public perception remains that cycling is suffering from under-investment
Three quarters of the population want the government to invest more in cycling safety, according to a new report from cycling charity Sustrans.
Bike Life – the largest ever survey of attitudes to cycling in the UK – surveyed 11,000 people across the UK. It found that the average respondent would like £26 per person to be spent on cycling annually, as part of the £300 per person currently spent on transport. Currently just £4 per person is spent in England.
The survey also found that this opinion was shared by both cyclists and non-cyclists. 71 percent of those who said they never use a bicycle still supported an increase, compared to 87 percent of those who cycle frequently.
“People want governments to spend more and say they would cycle more if it were safer. Now governments need to close this gap between current spending and public demand,” said Jason Torrance, policy director at Sustrans.
“Lack of exercise, congestion and declining air quality are costing our economy billions. Governments must act to ensure a greater share of current transport investment goes to cycling and walking.”
Active design has been a hot topic in recent months, especially in light of new research that finds cities that make an effort to promote physical activity reap significant economic benefits. Meanwhile, another Sustrans report found that the UK's National Cycle Network has saved the economy more than £7 billion since it was founded 20 years ago.
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