New Cycling Stats from the DfT
The DfT has launched a new Cycling Index for England, showing cycling levels on a rolling annual basis.
The data come from 158 DfT sensors, or Auto Traffic Cycle Counters (ATCs). There are now more of these sensors at a wider range of locations than previously.
As can be seen from the graph the baseline is December 2013, which is given a score of 100. A score of say, 110, shows a 10% increase on 2013 cycling levels.
Figures to December 2022
These are the main points to note from the December 2022 figures.
- cycling levels are 23.7% higher in December 2022 than in December 2013
- the pandemic peak in cycling was March 2021, which was +63% on December 2013
- there was a 24.1% decline in cycling levels (as pandemic restrictions eased) from March 2021 to December 2022
- there was a 3.2% decline in cycling levels from December 2021 to December 2022
- cycling levels are nevertheless +11% in December 2022 vs pre-pandemic, December 2019
Motor traffic has been increasing (e.g. +12.6% from September 2021 to September 2022). In September 2022, it was still 4.9% below pre-pandemic levels (December 2019).
The Cycling Index does not contain information that would allow comparisons across local authority areas.