64% Say It’s Too Dangerous to Cycle on the Roads
64% of people say it’s too dangerous to cycle on the roads, according to an Ipsos poll published last month. Women are more likely to agree that it’s too dangerous (71%) than men (57%).
The percentage of those believing the roads are too hostile for pedalling remains remarkably consistent. For example according to the DfT’s Walking & Cycling statistics for 2019, 66% said it was too dangerous to cycle on the roads. Similarly, a 2018 poll for Cycling UK showed that 56% of respondents were worried about sharing the road with lorries and large vehicles.
In the Ipsos survey:
- 44% of adults said they would like to cycle more than they currently do, but
- 47% agreed that ‘I’m not the kind of person who rides a bicycle’
Younger people and men are more likely to want to cycle more:
- 58% of those aged 25-34 and 50% of men want to cycle more, but
- only 32% of those aged 55+ and 39% of women do so
Support for Modal Shift
There is public support for modal shift away from cars. The percentages are as follows:
- 71% support actions to encourage more walking and cycling
- 65% support encouraging a shift to public transport
On the other hand, 71% of respondents say they need a car to suit their current lifestyle, rising to 86% of those who already have access to a car.
Only 21% say it is less important to own a car nowadays, compared with 59% who disagree.
Traffic Congestion and Road Charging
These are the results on traffic congestion:
- 55% say their local area is too congested, against 23% who disagree
- 45% support the idea of a charge to drive around towns and cities, compared with 33% who oppose the concept
Support for LTNs
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are popular:
- 42% of repondents support them
- only 33% oppose them
A sample of 2,240 people was interviewed from 3rd to 9th February 2022.