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TNS Travel and Tourism
ISBN 0 7559 2883 0

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The Scottish Executive commissioned TNS Travel & Tourism to collect information on cycling use and attitudes towards cycling in Scotland that could be compared with previous research conducted in 1997 and 2001. A total of 2,067 in-home interviews were conducted during the months of April and August 2005, which included 697 adult cyclists and 827 child cyclists. Some information on other cyclists within the household was collected as part of the interview with the respondents, irrespective of whether or not he or she was a cyclist.

Main findings

• The proportion of households where at least one bicycle is owned has remained relatively consistent for the past eight years, at around 50% since 1997.
• There has also been little variation in the average number of people within households who own a bicycle(s) - 1.08 in 2005 compared to 1.05 in 2001 and 1.10 in 1997.
• Cycling frequency amongst adults appears to have increased between 2001 and 2005 to levels similar to those recorded in 1997, with no significant variation in frequency amongst children.
• The average duration of cycling trips increased in 2005, with 57% cycling for over an hour compared to 29% in 2001. The average distance travelled in 2005 was 5.2 miles, a similar distance to that recorded in 2001 (5.9 miles).
• The increase in the duration of trips since 2001 may be related to the type of surface cycled on. During 2005, a significantly higher proportion of bicycle trips were taken off-road than were taken on this surface in 2001 (38% compared to 26%).
• During 2005, the proportion of respondents cycling for 'leisure' purposes increased, while a decrease was recorded in the proportion cycling to 'keep fit'.
• The weather and concerns over sharing the road with motorists remain prevalent barriers to cycling amongst those who currently cycle, as well as those who do not.
• Use of a cycle helmet remained equal with the level recorded in 2001 (35%), which was higher than that recorded in 1997 (25%).

Introduction

In 2005, the Scottish Executive commissioned research into participation in and attitudes towards cycling in Scotland. This survey updates information from surveys in 1997 and 2001, particularly in relation to:

• cycling usage and attitudes to cycling;
• barriers to cycling that exist;
• the effectiveness of initiatives on cycling levels.

As in the previous surveys, questions were inserted into the Scottish Opinion Survey ( SOS), the monthly consumer omnibus survey operated by TNS, in April and August 2005.

2,067 interviews were conducted, collecting information on 697 adult cyclists and 827 child cyclists.

Bicycle ownership

The proportion of households where at least one person owns a bicycle has remained relatively consistent over the past eight years. In 2005, 50% of respondents lived in a household where someone owned a bicycle.

Ownership was most likely in households with members under the age of 35 and those in the AB social classes (both 62%). 82% of households with dependent children owned a bicycle compared to 35% of those without.

The main reasons for not owning a bicycle related to age and physical health, with 25% of respondents in households without any bicycles stating that they were 'too old', while 15% mentioned a health problem or disability.

Other reasons included 'not interested/too lazy' (18%), 'have a car' (11%), 'roads are too busy/not safe' (6%) and 'too busy/no time' (5%).

Profile of cyclists

• In 2005, 60% of those who cycled were male, a proportion which rose from 55% in 1997 and 2001.
• 55% of those who cycled were aged 18 or under, a similar proportion to 1997 (53%) but higher than in 2001 (48%).
• Respondents aged 14 and under continue to represent a significant proportion of those who cycle, with 46% of cyclists in 2005 in this age group compared to 39% in 2001 and 43% in 1997.

Frequency of cycling

In the previous 7 days, 7% of respondents had cycled for more than a quarter of a mile to go to work, shopping, to visit friends, for pleasure or to keep fit, an identical figure to that recorded in 2001.

29% of respondents stated that they had used a bicycle for any purpose. 8% used a bicycle at least once a week, while 1% cycled every day.

Amongst those who cycled at least once a month:

• 27% had cycled at least once a month for less than 5 years (28% in 2001);

• 21% had done so for 5-10 years (27% in 2001);
• 22% had done so for 11-20 years (25% in 2001);
• 23% had done so for more than 20 years (22% in 2001).

The average number of years during which these respondents had cycled at least once a month was 15, with the following variations in terms of age:

• an average of 10.1 years for those under 35 (10.8 in 2001);
• an average of 17.3 years for 35-64 year olds (16.2 in 2001);
• an average of 31.1 years for over 65's (36.5 in 2001).

Cycling frequency amongst adults appears to have increased, returning to a similar level as recorded in 1997. In 2005, 14% of adults cycled over 3 times a week, while a further 23% did so 1-3 times per week.

Reasons for using a bicycle

A number of significant variations appear between surveys, including:

• an increase in those who gave cycling for 'leisure' purposes as their main reason (71% v 63% in 2001 and 72% in 1997);
• a decrease in the proportion mentioning 'keeping fit/healthy/exercise' as their main reason to 14% in 2005 from 20% in 2001 (12% in 1997);
• the proportion making any mention of cycling to visit friends decreased from 19% in 2001 to 14% in 2005 (13% in 1997).

'Leisure' was the most frequently given reason for cycling, particularly by children, with 85% giving this as their main reason compared to 54% of adult cyclists. Both of these figures have increased since 2001 and are similar to 1997 (55% and 83% respectively).

Adult cyclists were more likely than children to cycle for exercise or to 'keep fit' (27% v 4%), which, although lower than in 2001 (33%), remains higher than in 1997 (23%).

65% of respondents stated that they never wore a helmet in 2005 and 2001, less than in 1997 (75%). However, a fifth indicated that they wore a helmet on every trip (22%), a proportion which has increased from 14% since surveying began.

Trip details

The most frequently mentioned reasons for the last bicycle trip made were 'leisure' (57%), 'keep fit/exercise' (17%) and commuting to work (8%). 7% cycled to visit friends and 6% for 'shopping'.

33% of trips were 1-2 hours in duration, with a similar proportion on a journey of 30 minutes to an hour (31%). The average journey time was 86 minutes (62 minutes in 2001). The proportion of respondents making journeys of one hour or more in duration was 57% compared to 29% in 2001 and 38% in 1997.

The average distance travelled on the most recent bicycle trip was 5.9 miles, a slight increase on 2001's average of 5.2 miles but lower than in 1997 (7.1 miles).

53% of adult cyclists travelled 1-5 miles on their most recent trip, more than in 1997 (48%) and 2001 (45%).

A high proportion of bicycle journeys were taken on main roads (39%), although this figure is lower than in both 2001 (43%) and 1997 (41%). 21% of journeys were undertaken on minor roads, similar to 2001 (22%) but lower than in 1997 (33%).

A significantly higher proportion of respondents in 2005 cycled off-road, 38% compared to 26% in both 1997 and 2001.

48% of adults who cycled did so alone, a similar proportion as in 2001 (47%) but slightly lower than in 1997 (51%). 34% of respondents cycled with family members, while 17% cycled with friends.

25% of respondents claimed that nothing would encourage them to cycle any more frequently than at present. The factors that would be most likely to encourage people to cycle more were:·

more/improved cycle lanes - 20% (16% in 2001; 24% in 1997);

• good weather - 20% (15% in 2001; 14% in 1997);
• more time -10% (12% in 2001; 10% in 1997);

Dedicated cycle lanes or paths remained the most popular choice of initiative, with 61% of respondents giving this as their first choice in 2005. 33% of chose 'safer cycle routes to schools' as one of their top three, while 'information on cycle routes' or 'secure cycle parking facilities' were mentioned by 32% each.

Benefits of cycling

60% of respondents felt that 'makes you fitter' was a benefit. A higher proportion stated that it 'improves your health' (58%) than in 2001 (46%) and 1997 (39%).

42% indicated that it was a good way to exercise, while 21% mentioned environmental benefits and 18% reduced travel costs.

Barriers to cycling

The most frequently mentioned barriers were poor weather (36%) and concerns about sharing the road with motorists. The volume, behaviour and speed of other vehicles were key barriers for those with no cyclists in the household but less so than in households with a cyclist(s).

59% of all respondents stated that they owned a car, with a further 14% indicating that they had access to a car. Just over a quarter of respondents stated that they did not own or have access to a car (27%).

Influencing factors

Respondents over the age of 65 were significantly less likely to be in households with a bicycle owner(s) than younger respondents, as were those in adult-only households. 35% of those in the DE social classes were in households with a bicycle owner(s) compared to 62% of ABs.

56% of those who owned or had access to a car lived in a household where a bicycle(s) was owned compared to 33% of those without access to a car. This is likely to reflect the higher average level of disposable income amongst those with a car in their household.

Adults without access to a car were more likely to cycle to work - 15% did so compared to 7% of car owners and 9% of those with regular access to a car.

If you wish further copies of this Research Findings or have any enquiries about social research, please contact us at:

Tel: 0131 244-7565
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Email: socialresearch@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.scotland.gov.uk/socialresearch

The report "Cycling in Scotland 2005", which is summarised in this research findings is a web only document and is available on the publications page of the Scottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.uk/recent

This document (and other Research Findings and Reports) and information about social research in the Scottish Executive may be viewed on the Internet at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/socialresearch

The site carries up-to-date information about social and policy research commissioned and published on behalf of the Scottish Executive. Subjects covered include transport, housing, social inclusion, rural affairs, children and young people, education, social work, community care, local government, civil justice, crime and criminal justice, regeneration, planning and women's issues. The site also allows access to information about the Scottish Household Survey.