Lockdown-related changes to the UK’s transport habits are not being sustained as restrictions begin to lift, data shows.
Figures from the Department for Transport show that despite a spike in travel by bike and a dip in car usage during the pandemic, cycling and driving levels are now returning to pre-lockdown levels.
Cycling levels rose by over 200% on several weekends in early lockdown – over 100% on weekdays – as many cycling retailers reported a surge in sales, but the perceived bike boom is not being sustained.
In April 2021, cycling levels were up by only 6% from baseline levels, whilst in April 2020 there was an average increase of 73% across the month.
Driving dropped to as little as a third of baseline levels during lockdown in 2020, but the latest figures show a steady increase back towards expected levels.
Kerry Docherty, who works in a bike shop and commutes into Glasgow by bike every day, noticed not only a dramatic rise in bicycle sales, but also more cyclists on the roads during lockdown last year.
“It seemed that everyone had suddenly gotten a bike or dug the bike out of the shed and were using the cycle paths to commute, or just to get out,” she says.
As for her experience at work, Kerry says her store’s shop floor – which usually holds nearly 200 bicycles – often fell to less than 20 as stock was constantly running low in the spring and summer.
“Bikes were coming in and then going straight back out,” she says. “Our bike builders were making bikes that didn’t even make it to the shop floor. There were times when there were over 20 bikes being built a day.”
However, despite a boom in bike sales last year, Kerry says the amount of people travelling by bike is declining again.
“When restrictions started to lift in April there was an immediate difference on the roads within days,” she says. “Still not as busy as they normally would be, but the roads definitely aren’t as quiet as they were back in March 2020.”
As Kerry reports, transport figures show a stark difference when comparing spring last year to this year as Brits appear to return to their pre-pandemic modes of transport.
Change without infrastructure
Despite positive signs last year, active travel campaign groups’ hopes for long-term change after the pandemic are seemingly not materialising.
Groups such as Cycling UK have emphasised the need for infrastructure and policy change in order to ensure people stick to cycling.
However, despite some regionalised project and the government’s promise of a £2 billion cycling and walking fund, it seems efforts have not been enough to keep the British population on bikes and out of cars.
In Glasgow, where Kerry works, the council set up temporary cycle lanes and closed roads to vehicles during early lockdown, but many of these lanes have been removed and roads reopened.
As for existing cycle lanes, Kerry says many are poorly signposted or littered with leaves and rubbish.
“I think that the council has to start caring for these cycle lanes if they are serious about encouraging people to cycle to work and use them,” Kerry says. “This is something that should be encouraged even with restrictions starting to lift.”
Cycling and driving figures from 2020 show the potential for a shift towards the bicycle and away from the car, but it seems as lockdown lifts without meaningful change to infrastructure, the British population is quickly returning to pre-pandemic habits.
Data provided by the Department for Transport. Full data set available here.
Featured image: “Cycle commuters” by kube414 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Words by Tilda 