Cyclists pedal in greater numbers on Scotland’s quieter streets
● Whether it’s for exercise or essential journeys, lockdown bike use surges
The number of people cycling has rocketed in some parts of Scotland since social distancing measures were introduced to combat Covid-19, new data shows.
Cycling Scotland said a counter in Dunfermline recorded an increase of 215 per cent. The number of people cycling at a Dundee location rose by 94 per cent, while Livingston logged a 65 per cent uplift in the final two weeks of March.
Cycling Scotland has a network of 60 automatic cycle counters across Scotland. The data was collected as part of the National Monitoring Framework, managed by Cycling Scotland and funded by Transport Scotland, to monitor cycling rates across the country.
The nation’s cycling organisation compared the average number of people cycling per day in the second half of March this year to the same period in 2019.
Keith Irving, chief executive of Cycling Scotland, said: “Many people are rediscovering cycling during lockdown, for exercise or essential journeys. I hope people continue to cycle when we emerge from this crisis and carry on benefiting from the massive positive impact cycling has on our physical and mental health.
“We would strongly urge anyone getting out on their bike to follow current public health advice, especially on social distancing and hygiene. It’s also more important than ever to obey the speed limit, drive to the conditions and give space to people cycling or walking, when driving.”
He added: “There are many brilliant organisations offering access to bikes for NHS and other key workers at the moment and we hope this can keep making a difference for people in the weeks to come.”
Transport Scotland reported that travel had fallen from an average of 2.7 to 0.9 trips per person per day, with the number of people travelling by road dropping by two thirds since the start of last month.
Kirsty Clift is a care assistant in Bishopbriggs, north of Glasgow, where she supports adults with complex additional care needs.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, she has been getting to work on an ebike borrowed from Blackhill on Bikes – a project in her local area.
“Before the outbreak, I’d normally drive to work,” she said. “I wouldn’t cycle in Glasgow because I’m worried about safety, the roads used to feel too busy and dangerous and I wasn’t confident.
“The roads have been quieter here, so I decided to borrow the ebike ... the quieter roads have given me the confidence boost to ride my bike and you get a bit of exercise in the 20-minute cycle.”