Cyclists in the North are on their bikes up to an hour and a half longer every week than their Southern counterparts, according to new research.
A new study from ŠKODA UK, conducted to mark the finale of the Tour of Britain, reveals the cycling habits of people from across the UK.
The results show that Scotland, birthplace of sport legend Sir Chris Hoy, is home to the most fervent cycling fanatics, with Glaswegians spending an average of 4.9 hours a week on their bikes.
This is followed closely by Manchester – where the National Cycling Centre is based – and Liverpool residents (both at 4.7 hours).
At the opposite end of the spectrum is Southampton, where locals clock up an average of just 3.3 hours of cycling each week, while residents of Plymouth (3.5 hours) and Brighton (4 hours) are not far behind.
Bike ownership per household also increases the further north you go – with Nottingham and Leeds families possessing the most, at 2.8 bikes and 2.7 respectively.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh has the highest number of cycling commuters of any city in the UK, with 33 per cent of residents biking to work. Conversely, Southampton has the fewest cycling commuters, at just seven per cent.
Andrew Cullis, Head of Marketing for ŠKODA UK, said: “As a company that began as a manufacturer of bicycles back in 1895, ŠKODA has a huge heritage in the sport of cycling. This association continues with our ongoing sponsorship of the Tour of Britain, as well as many other major global events.
“On that basis, we were interested to understand how cycling habits compare and contrast across Britain. It seems that people in the South need to don the Lycra and hit the open road more often: cyclists in the North are racing ahead.”
Furthermore, it’s not just hours and miles clocked up by cyclists which puts the North ahead – the list of places Brits would most like to cycle is also dominated by the region. The Lake District tops the list, followed by the Scottish Highlands and the Yorkshire Dales.
On a broader scale, the research also revealed that:
Cardiff is the city with the most competitive riders, with 54 per cent of cyclists stating they compete against friends, against other cyclists, or in organised competitions
Yorkshire is most health-conscious region, with 78 per cent stating that improving their health encouraged them to cycle more
A third of thrifty Scots cycle due to the cost of transport
ŠKODA UK’s sponsorship of the Tour of Britain is now in its fourth successive year. To find out more, and to explore ŠKODA’s leading range of cycling accessories for motorists, visit www.skoda.co.uk/cycling.
