Cyclists were asked which was their favourite city to ride through and Southampton came out on top, heavily praised for its excellent cycle lanes and clear signage
Southampton has been crowned the best city in England for cycling, ahead of Newcastle and Cambridge.
Meanwhile, Brighton and Hove and London completed the top five best cities for cyclists. A study of 2,000 bikers found those in the city highlighted good cycle lanes (54%), signage (48%) and plenty of parking (43%) as reasons why their hometown is the best.
However, it isn’t all smooth sailing as 30% also complained about discourteous drivers on the roads. Nearly three in five (57%) of all cyclists polled have considered cycling more often because of rising petrol prices, whereas 74% have got into it to keep fit.
The research, commissioned by Halfords , also revealed Newcastle is the UK’s two-wheel commuter capital – with 91% of the cyclists polled using either bikes or e-bikes as their main way to get to work.
Meanwhile, Birmingham came at the top for e-bike commuting – with 39% commuting to work on an electric bike at least some of the time.
Pippa Wibberley, director of cycling for the brand said: “Cycling is great for the environment – and your legs – and with plenty of traffic on the roads, it can sometimes be quicker than getting in a car.
“But it seems some cities are better suited to bikes being on the road than others – it is clear the key is good cycle lanes and courteous drivers.
“It can be easy to miss a cyclist when pulling out at junctions, so as a driver you should be checking more than once to make sure the coast is clear.”
The study also found 56% of cyclists said the biggest barrier preventing them from using their bike for the daily commute is the distance, whereas 29% moan about turning up sweaty.
More than a third (36%) of those who do not currently cycle to work said they would gladly ride their bike to the office – if only their boss provided a shower. Meanwhile, 30% cited a lack of secure bike storage at the office.
The OnePoll.com study found when confronted with the nightmare of sweaty clothes, 45% of bikers said upgrading to an e-bike would make them more likely to cycle to work.
But while potholes are most commonly associated with car damage, 65% of cyclists polled claim it’s also an issue for them when it comes to cycling in their city. Those living in Leeds and Leicester have noticed potholes them more than anyone else.
Meanwhile, almost half of Mancunians (53%) have picked up damage to their bike or hurt themselves after going over a pothole when cycling.
Pippa Wibberley from Halfords added: “There is clearly a growing appetite across the UK for cycling, whether it be to work or leisure.”
“But there’s still work to be done to help those who are keen, whether that’s employers stepping up by providing showers at work, or councils tackling the ongoing pothole problem on our streets.”
“We want to empower Brits across the country to embrace the bike or e-bike, bettering their own wellness and health through the release of endorphins and exercise.”
Top 10 cities for cycling:
- Southampton
- Newcastle
- Cambridge
- Brighton and Hove
- London
- Manchester
- Bristol
- Birmingham
- Sheffield
- Glasgow
