Why don't more people cycle?

I love the idea of regularly using cycling as a means of transport, but as a form of exercise it just doesn't cut it for me (compared with running). I suppose it would do if I were going hell-for leather the whole time, or cycling miles and miles every day, but I don't have time to do that! If I'm just cycling along at a normal speed it doesn't really feel like any effort at all.

Plus the roads round here are narrow and bendy and people drive too fast.

A lot of bikes got stolen from our locked, underground garage at work last year. That put a lot of folk off.

Hired a bike on holiday last year, I just could not balance for the life of me and was wobbling all over the place, like Bambi on ice! I also developed vertigo recently - I have a 3yo dc, I think pregnancy really effed up my inner ear

I also wouldn't cycle to work as the road is fast, windy, and drivers utter nutters. I have a door-to-door bus, which is handy.

I adore it. I'm a wuss in the bad weather but oddly enough had resolved to start again tomorrow....I am SO looking forward to it. I am planning to ride to my Mum's...that's 9 miles away. As I'm a bit unfit I am nervous of the ride back! I will be knackered but am getting married next year and want to really build up my figure to what I want without any panic dieting.

Cycling is so exhillerating! It IS nerve wracking if you're not used to it but that passes.

I cycled most when I lived in London. It was my primary means of transport. I was a foolish, teenager though, but I used parks, commons, side streets and The South Bank, Covent Garden and similar as much as I could.

I am a female cyclist and I live in London. Interestingly most men I know commute by bike and ride for sport , and hardly any of their partners/wives do. Storage and money are not reasons. It seems to be unappealing to the women, for fear of traffic and discomfort, hassle of bike maintenance to name a few barriers to entry. My female friends are fit but they run, play tennis, swim etc.
As a triathlete I will admit that cycling is definitely the most risky of my 3 disciplines, and I do feel there is a certain risk each time I go out riding. But I am a cautious rider, I avoid certain junctions, and sometimes find quiet hills to do repeats where traffic isn't an issue. I won't go out in poor weather or if there's any chance of ice.
I do understand where many people live it would be unappealing for traffic reasons.
Also, as a fitness activity it is very time consuming. A 45 minute run is a good work out, but you need much longer on the bike for the equivalent effort.
I love cycling though and if I lived somewhere different would do far more !

I have no sense of balance and hearing aids don't work in the wind. So while I can ride a bike and have done round quiet suburban areas or rural cycle paths, I can't lift a hand to indicate, have no clue what is behind me, and my head doesn't turn which makes cycling with traffic quite terrifying. Many people have similar minor issues making them less than confident in traffic.

And I know quite a few people who do cycle in London traffic - and all of them have been knocked over at least once over say 5 years, some injured quite badly. If MrNC hadn't learnt to fall from doing judo, he probably wouldn't be able to walk now.

You could argue that people who drive have accidents at a similar rate, but most of those are minor prangs that don't cause injury and aren't nearly as scary. Compared to public transport, cycling is scary, sweaty, terrible on hills, and you can't read a book. Even if it is often more reliable and cheaper.

I'm taking up cycling as my new 'thing' this year.
But I'm really scared of falling off and I'm pretty wobbly.
I think most people can get over that though,and suspect the main reason people don't cycle is because they're too unaccustomed to physical exercise,especially in the outdoors with all that narsty weather,when they can just jump in the car instead.

If anyone is thinking about trying out cycling look on the British Cycling website for sky rides and breeze rides. I love going out on Breeze rides. There is a leader who advises you and you just feel safe in a group. It is also much easier to cycle if you are in a group, if you have ever watched a bike racd they cycle in a peleton for a reason. I can't wait till the Breeze rides start again in my area. Give it a try!

If it really is the norm where you live, then presumably you live somewhere with a decent cycle infrastructure, and where there are enough cyclists that motorists are reasonably aware of how to drive around cyclists, which takes care of around three quarters of the reasons given here.

I think not wanting to get killed by a car hitting you is a very valid reason.

Unfortunately my circumstances mean that I can't currently save anything. And if I could, it would be to put away for emergencies, not to buy a bike .

And no, nowhere! I could maybe put it on my bed when not in use. Or in my baby's bedroom.

I will think my reason is valid.

What do you suggest to me having absolutely nowhere to keep a bike? And no money to buy one?

Well quite. One planner answers the protest "But we are not Amsterdam or Utrect!" with "20 years ago neither were Amsterdam or Utrect now".

Bit of a problem in the UK is the slavish attachment to driving cars.

Rudy even after all these people have given their reasons??

Crazyoldbaglady, have you seen pictures of the Netherlands in the early 1970s? The roads could have been been anywhere in the UK, with equally bad provision for cyclists. I don't think that it's too late to change things here.

Yes, it is.

My dad was a competitive cyclist and cycled everywhere as a young man.
I cycled everywhere as a child.
The roads in London are now far too busy and dangerous IMO.

Okay Soup - your choice.