The amount of cycling trips made in 2011 was up by around 40 million, or 18 per cent, when compared to 2010.
Around 3.3 million cyclists used the National Cycle Network in 2011, which is an increase of around 300,000 on 2010, with a third of these cyclists claiming that they could have used the car if they had so wished.
The majority of these cyclists, when asked, stated that high petrol prices, traffic and wanting to increase their fitness were the underlying reasons for their switch from driving.
Chief executive of cycling charity, Sustrans, had this to say: 'Cycling and walking are the answers to our rising petrol prices and expanding waistlines, but we need safe routes to feel comfortable travelling by bike and foot.'
‘People across the country are crying out for routes where they can get off roads and make safe, healthy, cheap and green journeys. It’s time the government had the foresight to properly fund cycling and walking.’
The National Cycle Network covers 13,600 miles of signed routes, and those that use it - as opposed to driving - are estimated to have given the country a health benefit worth around £440 million, according to the Cycling Revolution report, which also claimed that had the cycling trips been made by car, they would have equated to 760,363 tonnes of carbon dioxide emisisons, at a cost of £40 million to the economy.
Echoing the sentiments of these cyclists, are the nation's motorists, as the popularity of small city cars, and low emission green cars are at an all time high. If, like the cyclists, you want to be kinder to the environment, and perhaps save some money at the same time, have a look at our top ten city cars to see if there is anything that takes your fancy.
