Cycling Scotland research finds potential cyclists are discouraged by Scotland’s busy streets.
Scotland’s roads are still seen as too dangerous for cycling by many people, a survey has revealed.
Cycling Scotland’s latest research found unsafe roads were cited as the main barrier to people using bikes, with 63% of people in Scotland saying roads were too busy to safely cycle on.
Parents were especially concerned about safety, with 28% saying they thought roads were “extremely unsafe” for children – the lowest possible rating. Just 3% thought Scotland’s roads were “extremely safe”.
Although eight in ten Scots agreed that it would be better for the environment if more people cycled, 64% claimed cycling was not a “viable” form of transport for them.
Most people in Scotland were found to have positive attitudes towards cycling, saying that it improves health and wellbeing (92%), and that Scotland would be a better place if more people used bikes (65%).
In 2017, three-quarters of people who didn’t currently cycle said they were very unlikely to cycle in the future. This response reduced to two-thirds in 2019.
In addition, high numbers of children continue to ride their bikes, with 61% of kids cycling weekly.
However, despite the benefits of cycling, 44% of Scots polled said they had no interest in reducing their car use and almost three-quarters said they would rather use their car than any other form of transport.
Keith Irving, chief executive of Cycling Scotland, said: “This research is important as it provides a snapshot of how attitudes towards cycling are changing and helps inform where to direct our efforts.
“It’s encouraging to see the environmental agenda influencing transport choices and people saying how cycling could help to shape a greener, cleaner Scotland. But, that said, there is a lot of work still to be done.”
The charity conducts a national poll every two years to gauge attitudes towards cycling in Scotland. More than 1,000 people around the country were polled for the latest survey.
The true reality of cycling on Britains roads is that currently it is a dangerous thing to do. As a life style change I and was thinking of buying a bike, I used to cycle a lot, when I was yonger. Recently I was walking with my wife and friends and we came acrros a very shaken and bleeding young man. This was in a quiet area of Halifax West Yorkshire, he had been hit by a car on a small back road behind Shibden Park the historic home of Anne Lister.
The driver had not stopped.
Putting aside the current moral curruption of drivers not stopping when they have hurt another person. The issue is that for years we have over prioritised cars and so the health benefits to all of us and also to the health service of cycling to the shops or to see friends for both older and younger members of our society have been lost. T here is no protection, it is simply too dangerous at this present time for most young or new cyclists to venture onto the roads. We need real vision and leadership at a governmental level to make effective change for the future.