Scared cyclists are staying off the road

Research launched today reveals the extent of the cycling fear factor in the UK with two thirds of drivers admitting they never get out of the car and cycle on roads because they fear traffic.

National road safety charity Brake and Green Flag can today reveal that 64% of drivers say they never cycle on roads, many through fear of traffic.

Recently-released provisional Government figures show that in 2006 an alarming 2,420 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on roads in Great Britain. From 2003-2005 there was a horrifying 30% rise in cycle deaths (2006 death statistics not yet available). Bicycle use in Great Britain is decreasing. The average number of cycle trips made per person per year fell from an average of 18 from 1995 - 1997 to just 14 in 2005. Every year, statistics show that more and more young people, to the detriment of their health and well-being, are being driven to school. 43% of primary pupils and 22% of secondary pupils are now driven to school.

Brake believes more people would cycle – a healthy, congestion-easing and environmentally-friendly means of transport – if the national cycle network included more off-road cycle paths between homes and amenities. As the research shows, many drivers understand how risky the roads are for cyclists and will only get out of their cars if they can do so ‘off-road’.

Brake is also calling for the Government to get serious about its bid to persuade people to use their cars less and invest in road engineering measures to protect cyclists and pedestrians such as 20mph safety zones around our schools and homes.

Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake, said: “It's terrible that so many people are afraid to get on a bicycle because of fear of traffic, and worse their fears are justified. Too many people try to cocoon themselves and their families in cars, leading to more vehicles on our roads and an even greater threat to pedestrians and cyclists. Choosing cycling and walking over the car is good for your health and the environment, so we should be encouraging it. But people won't be persuaded to get on their bikes - quite rightly - unless they can do so without putting their lives in danger. It's time the Government put some serious investment into the national cycle network and other measures to enable people to walk and cycle safely.”

Philippa Naylor, spokesperson for Green Flag, commented: “With so much discussion about people’s health and the ‘carbon footprint’, it is a shame that so few would cycle but perhaps not surprising given the high number who are killed or seriously injured each year. Two thirds of the drivers surveyed would not cycle because they think it is dangerous so hopefully they will remember this when they are behind the wheel and look out for cyclists. We would advise motorists to always check for cyclists on the inside when turning left and ensure they have enough space, especially in bad weather conditions.”

Key findings of the Brake and Green Flag survey:

More than a third (35%) say they would use cycle paths to travel from home to local amenities if they were available

Nearly half (47%) of respondents never cycle

Of the 508 respondents who do cycle, 34% only do so on paths and away from roads

A third (34%) of those who cycle on roads think dangerous drivers outnumber safe drivers

One in three (36%) of the 645 respondents who never cycle on roads do so for reasons including fear of traffic