Over on BikeHub.co.uk I’ve published an article on a new YouGov survey, commissioned by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. The RoSPA press release states that the overwhelming majority of people in Britain would support greater provision for people on bicycles. The research was done online over two days at the end of February and involved 2,169 people, 58 percent of whom said they never ever cycle. 40 percent said no amount of road safety campaigns, slower motorists or separated cycle infrastructure would encourage them to ride bicycles.
I asked RoSPA for the YouGuv survey questions and results, and here they are.
Oi, Gov’t, don’t build more roads! But do reduce rail fares. (People also want reduced congestion and cheaper petrol – right hand, meet left.) 34 percent of those asked want cycle networks created.58 percent of those asked never cycle. Nine percent cycle at least once a week.36 percent of those asked would like to cycle more often. 44 percent said “about the same” (which can mean “never”, too).When asked what’s stopping you from cycling the top answer concerned safety on the roads. But 32 percent of people said cycling “isn’t a realistic option for the type of journeys I take.” 24 percent complained about poor weather (remember, the survey was done in February). “I lack the motivation to cycle,” is perhaps one of the key answers, if that could be linked to the same sort of laziness that sees the majority of people stop walking when they use escalators.If there were safer roads and motorists paid more attention would this affect how often you cycle? No, said 52 percent of those asked.When asked how unsafe cycling felt in their localities, 41 percent of people said it was “fairly safe”. A third said it was “fairly unsafe” and only 15 percent of those asked said their localities were “very unsafe” for cycling.While 52 percent of those questioned never cycled, the majority of all respondents said more should be done to cater for the needs of cyclists, including “cycle lanes, changing the route layout, etc.” Only 16 percent were opposed.Those who said they supported more provision for cyclists were highly in favour of separated cycle infrastructure. Surprisingly, and perhaps pointedly, only 20 percent wanted to see car speeds reduced.Haters are gonna hate, and of those opposed to provision for cyclists 59 percent said they want money to be spent on other road project. 52 percent don’t like the idea of road space reallocation. 38 percent said such provision would create “crowded roads.”38 percent of those asked would cycle more often if there were safe cycle routes, but 40 percent said no measures could make them cycle more often.
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