10 things that put people off cycling

[rsscott]

The Guardian newspaper today reports that "For all the talk of a 'cycling revolution', commuter cycling has remained static at 2.8% across England and Wales over the past decade. Outside certain pockets - inner London has seen an 144% percent rise - cycling is very much a marginal form of transport."

The full article can be read here:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/mar/31/10-things-that-put-people-off-cycling

Of the 10 reasons why, I know we can help with at least 3 of those!

5) Lack of facilities - "Lack of showers at work was an issue that came up again and again"

8) The roads being no country for old men - "A number of our readers said they'd been put off cycling as they didn't feel able to keep up with the motor traffic any more...."

10) Rain... and hills - "I'd argue the feeling of rain on your face and the exhilaration of successfully climbing a steep hill are part of the fun of cycling. Unsurprisingly, this view is not shared by all."

 

[Jimod]

I work in an oil refinery, there are many more people using bikes to get to work than 5 years ago.

Point No.5 doesn't apply in there as there are many facilities for showering and changing. It would though, put people off if there wasn't

Point 8 doesn't seem to apply though as most of the people cycling to work in the refinery are shift workers so they travel before and after the roads are busy.

Point 10 is an issue for some and the biggest majority of the cycle to work brigade live in the valley so don't have big climbs. A few live up the hills but they are the minority of the cyclists.

Me? I've had an ebike for 3 years and have only cycled to work once in that time. Ironically though, I used my non ebike that day.

 

[superDove]

I feel like it'll be years before cycle commuting is safe and convenient. By then it'll be irrelevant cos we'll all be wearing bionic exoskeletons instead.

 

[flecc]

"For all the talk of a 'cycling revolution', commuter cycling has remained static at 2.8% across England and Wales over the past decade.

There are other reasons why this could be perfectly true:

1) There has been a large increase in the number of people who work from home.

2) Large numbers of English people have moved out of cities into the countryside or emigrated so are no longer potential commuting cyclists, They have been largely replaced in cities with immigrants who often live close to their work in overcrowded accommodation. Additionally immigrants are often from countries which see cycling as socially demeaning.

3) Following extensive criticisms, public transport in many areas has been improved so more can and do use use it. As evidence, despite tube upgrades and a 50% increase in the number of buses, London's public transport is full to bursting point.

4) There has been a marked worsening of weather in the last decade. The annual droughts that used to plague us have largely disappeared and rainfall has been higher. This again encouraged more to take to public or private motor transport.

5) Government economies have resulted in the worst standards of road maintenance since World War 2. The potholed condition of so many roads is a major deterrent to cycling.
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