New research from Saga, the UK’s leading provider of products and services tailored for those over 50, has revealed that Norwich is the top cycling city in the UK, closely followed by Newcastle, Belfast, Nottingham, and Glasgow.
To determine the best cities, Saga created an index to score locations based on availability of bike share schemes, cyclist safety, likelihood of bike theft, number of cycling routes, and the impact of local weather conditions on cycling.
Norwich scored high marks (10.0) for categories like cycle routes, bike sharing schemes and cycle-friendly weather conditions. Closely followed was Newcastle (9.53), with the largest number of sharing scheme options – followed by Belfast (9.28), Nottingham (9.09) and Glasgow (8.02), which also scored highly across these categories.
In other locations, cities such as Edinburgh received praise for their extensive network of cycling routes. However, they received a zero score in terms of bike availability, as the city's bike sharing program was discontinued in 2021.
Looking to the future, Manchester may have secured sixth position, but the city is making substantial investments of £1.5 billion into an ambitious project called the Bee Network. This initiative aims to develop an extensive network of 1,800 miles of cycling and walking routes by 2028 – meaning it’s likely this city will make its way up the rankings in the coming years.
Staying physically active was cited as the main reason for cycling
To accompany the index, Saga commissioned a survey of over 2,000 adults to examine different generations' perspectives on cycling and provide additional insights.
According to the survey findings, respondents highlighted several key benefits of cycling. The top reasons identified were staying physically active (79%), promoting mental health (57%), and contributing to environmental protection (54%).
Financial gains were a significant theme amongst respondents – 34% stated they would save between £11- £20 a week if they cycled rather than took other modes of transport – while 16% said they would save between £21- £30 a week.
Over 9 in 10 of those over 50 say they cycle to improve their physical health
Of the age groups surveyed, a huge 91% of those over age 50 said keeping active and improving physical health was the biggest benefit of cycling – pointing to the overwhelming impact it has on an individual's well–being.
Those across this age bracket also noted that cycling was likely to save them time throughout the week. Notably, the 55-64 age bracket had the highest likelihood of saving 1 to 2 hours per week (9%) - and individuals over 50 years old (6%) were twice as likely as those under 50 (3%) to save 1 to 2 hours of time when using a bicycle to get around.
Barriers to entry
Despite the advantages of cycling, there are several obstacles preventing potential cyclists from embracing it in various cities across the UK. In fact, only 13% of respondents ‘strongly agreed’ that their city is well equipped for cycling.
There were also clear regional differences with contrasting views on the quality of local cycling networks, as well as attitudes towards public transport networks. 63% of those in the East Midlands said their roads are too dangerous for cycling, the highest of any region to select this option. 23% of those in Scotland and Wales believe there is a lack of cycle lanes in their area, compared to just 8% of Londoners. Those in the South West were the most concerned (19%) about the lack of storage for bikes in their area. While 40% of Londoners strongly agree their city has good public transport, compared to 20% across the UK as a whole.
Commenting on the research, Kevin McMullan, PMI and Travel Insurance Director said:
“Although the UK may not have achieved the status of becoming a cycling haven like the Netherlands quite yet, it’s fantastic to see so many cities across the country making substantial efforts to improve cycling routes and become more accessible.
“However, despite this growth, there are still many Britons who don’t feel their city is well equipped for cyclists – and to combat this, more investment should be considered across the country.
"By enhancing cycling infrastructure and prioritising road safety, we not only benefit the more experienced, over 50s cyclists by enabling them to maintain their regular physical activity, but also foster a cycle-friendly environment that empowers individuals of all ages to experience the positive impact of cycling.
As these improvements are implemented, there will be less barriers to entry for cyclists, and more active people of all ages can use a bicycle – and feel safe while doing so.”
The full details of this research can be found here
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