Cycle use increases on National Cycle Network

In 2006 Sustrans recorded 338 million cycling and walking journeys made on the National Cycle Network – 106 million more trips than reported in 2005.

94 million of these were short journeys made on local links, showing how, by giving people useful routes, to shops, schools and offices it is possible to get people travelling by bike and on foot.

Of those 338 million journeys around half were made by bike (168 million) and the rest on foot.

Andy Cope, director of Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit said:

“Once again our figures contrast with the government’s own statistics that show no growth in cycling or walking. Unlike the Department for Transport’s figures our monitoring takes account of traffic-free routes, which consistently show themselves to be where cyclists, both inexperienced and experienced prefer to cycle. In urban areas these are especially important, accounting for 19% of National Cycle Network but carrying 80% of all journeys made.”

27% of cycling trips during 2006 were made by women who are new or returning to cycling, the overwhelming majority on traffic-free sections.