Why don't more people cycle?

[PhoebeMcPeePee]

I am amazed more people haven't found cycling as a form of exercise. It is a total revelation for me - 4/5 months ago I could barely get to the local shops & am now comfortably cycling 20+miles and LOVING IT! I've never really enjoyed exercise or found a sport I was any good at (used to force myself into the gym or to classes to keep trim) but I actually look forward to going on my rides. Oh and my legs have never been firmer which is always a bonus

Is it because, like me, people assume they just can't ride, or fear of traffic etc?

Way too dangerous for me.

Besides, I much prefer running.

I would love to cycle more, but my journey to work is 25 miles with 3 major climbs and I need to drop 2 dc off on the way. And the last 4 miles is dual carriageway. I used to do it occassionally before the dc came along.

People in Netherlands & Denmark have worse weather. Go back to 1970 and Britain had double the cycling rates of the Danish or Dutch.

They planned to encourage lots of cycling, planners here didn't give a damn. :(

I love cycling. But not in the UK. In Germany on cycle lanes yes. In the UK I've been knocked off my bike twice and once had someone open their bloody car door on me.
We do go out for bike rides in 'the woods' but they're very leisurely because DS can't keep up.

I love my bike, hate cold wet weather. The big thing that puts me off cycling more is hills, and living in Yorkshire there's nowhere flat near me!

I love cycling but have stopped since children. I can't do the work/nursery/grandparent run and tried a children's seats at the weekend but it:s a bit busy round here. Maybe if we lived in the country......

Yes, I'm scared of the busy roads around here and I also wouldn't be able to get a shower at work. In addition we miscalculated and got a stupidly small she'd so it's an absolute pain in the arse to get out bikes out.

I cycled everywhere as a child and teen, then cycled little until ds was old enough to want to go places together. And now I cycle for exercise and pleasure - a couple of 20 milers in the week, longer with ds and dh at the weekend (with a cafe stop), and then if the club rides in the right direction I go on the C ride with ds (dh goes with the Bs), or dh and I fight it out as to who goes with the club.

The traffic in my case.

because they don't want to die under a lorry.

Fear of getting killed! Roads are too treacherous round here.

Love cycling but kids aren't yet up to 15 mile round trip to school/CM. I did it pregnant, with one in child seat, then both in trailer, but they've outgrown the trailer. Very lucky in good cycle paths on most of route, though a lot unlit. Hope to get back when they're bigger.

Because I don't want to arrive to work sweaty and I don't want to shower at work. As an aside, it makes my bum hurt big time. I know that over time that would probably change, but that doesn't enthuse me now.

Fear of traffic is definitely a big factor. I have got over it now but when I first started cycling I stuck to mainly traffic free cycle paths. I went onto roads as I wanted to go further and faster and it does take a while to build up confidence. It can also depend where you live/ work. Where I live I can be off the main roads and into quiet country roads fairly quickly.

It also helps if you have someone to go with. I didn't initially but my friend has just bought a road bike to come out with me as she,is currently running on her own most of the time and doesn't like it as much. I used to run with her but had a foot injury for whole of this year hence the switch to cycling.

The sore bum is just a temporary thingas that soon goes but the cost can also be an issue. I have spent a fortune on cycling this year.

Traffic fear here too.

Hills. Fucking massive hills round here.

Love cycling on holidays tho.

I live in a flat with zero storage space - no garage or hall - nothing. So I can't store a bike anyway. Anyway, even if I could, my workplace has no showers, and I don't fancy cycling there and dealing with customers all day without being able to wash

Repeated surveys show that fear of traffic (cars, vans etc) is what stops people riding on roads. And yet it remains a very safe form of transport statistically. You need a bit of confidence and a lot of road craft to make it even more safer for you but that comes with experience.

Fucking massive hills - they are the best bit!

I drive 60 miles a day to and from work - I couldn't do that on a bike.
Also, I would be terrified of getting killed.

I enjoyed cycling in Holland though. Having cycle tracks separate from roads makes all the difference.

I've got a road bike recently but I'm too chicken to go out on the road on it. Turbo trainer only so far. Traffic scares me and I live on the yorkshire moors so have ridiculous hills to contend with

That beautiful Bianchi!!??

1. I don't have a death wish
2. it hurts my knees and back.

I used to cycle loads, including to work and back (up to 10 miles each way), and much longer trips for fun/exercise, plus all kinds of local errands, shops, pub etc. And I don't care about hills, I'm from Yorkshire!

But that was pre-DC - now living in a busy city, I am just too scared to have the DC on the back of the bike. I know people do it but even as a very experienced, capable and roadwise cyclist, I had the occasional accident -usually thanks to bad drivers. I just can't bear the thought of that happening with a child in a child seat - which also adds instability. One of my DC is older but dyspraxic and dreamy and hasn't learned to ride a bike (not for want of trying), and I'd be very worried about him on the roads though it might happen one day.

Also, nowhere handy to put bikes now we live in a terraced family house.

Also, badly designed city with not much cycle lane provision. We went to the Netherlands and it was fantastic, I would cycle all the time if I lived there - separate lanes along every road, lots of space and a cycling culture. The actual routes I would have to use if I cycled now are horrible, busy and too narrow roads with people going to fast.

I used to love it and I hope I will cycle again eventually but it will have to be once DC are independent.

Soup I don't have a death wish either, but just about every day. Other road users are generally very reasonable people and make allowances as per HC. It isn't the awful thing people promote it as. IF it was I wouldn't be doing it.

I used to cycle and loved it but then I got into running and I prefer that. It takes up less of my day and I can listen to podcasts while running, can't when cycling.