Walking and Cycling Statistics 2020

23rd September 2021

The DfT published the cycling and walking statistics for 2020 yesterday. Cycle trips and stages, and miles cycled, increased from 2019.

On average per person, the cycling statistics in 2020 are:

• 20 cycling trips, and 21 cycling stages (cycling as part of an overall trip)
• 88 miles cycled
• 12 minutes a week cycling
• 3% of all trips cycled
• 2% of total distance cycled

Of course in reality, most people don't cycle at all, and those who do cycle much more than 12 minutes a week.

From 2019 to 2020, trips increased from 16 to 20 - a 26% rise. Miles cycled rose from 54 to 88, up 62%. These figures are quite different for men and women:

• men made 28 trips and cycled 127 miles, on average and
• women made 13 trips and cycled 50 miles on average

Total cycle stages are up from 964 million to 1.2 billion, plus 24%.

Walking and Cycling Statistics 2020: What Would Encourage More Cycling?

According to the National Travel Attitudes Survey (which I reported on in June), the top things that would encourage people to cycle more are:

• off-road and segregated cycle paths (55%)
• safer roads (53%) and
• well-maintained road surfaces for cycling (49%)

Walking and Cycling Statistics 2020: KSIs

The number of pedal cyclists killed or seriously injured went up from 4,210 in 2019 to 4,320 in 2020 - an increase of 3%.

Walking and Cycling Statistics 2020: Cycling to School

3% of children usually cycle to school, but 5% of secondary school children cycle to school (up from 3% in 2019).