The Rise of Cycling in the UK
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2012 was a great year for cycling; Bradley Wiggins, Victoria Pendleton and Laura Trott all won gold at the London Olympics. It brought about a new wave of interest in cycling and more than ever, people of all ages wanted to ride a bike. The ‘cycle to work’ scheme, which aims to promote a healthier lifestyle and reduce the negative impact on the environment, has been around since 1999, but it saw renewed interest following Britain’s success in London.
Even some of the sports attire for cycling has become popular – sales for casual cycling clothing are ever increasing. There has been a big rise in the trend of ‘athleisure’; the concept of sports-meets-causal clothing which can be worn in either scenario. More and more brands are creating lines, many partnering with celebrities, like Beyonce’s Ivy Park collection with Topshop. This, of course, has been contributed to by the ‘clean eating’ trend which floods most social media feeds these days (certainly mine, at least), and the increased interest in sports post-2012.
The timing of this growth couldn’t have been better given the credit crunch and the decline in the economy. Employment rates have dropped and although earnings are gradually increasing, it isn’t by much. This has resulted in households having a reduced income, which means fewer holidays abroad, stricter budgets and less spending. Affording two cars per household has become more difficult, particularly if your spouse has lost their job. Cycling is not only an attractive health and recreational activity prospect but a cost-saving one. If your employer has opted into the ‘cycle to work’ scheme, then you won’t even need to buy a bike.
Given the reduced financial investment in the green sector and the growing realisation of environmental harm, reducing our carbon footprint is essential. We need to recycle, we need to ensure we’re making sufficient strides to protect our future and those of our children’s children, especially seeing as the Conservatives aren’t doing it. Some may feel they need to be of a certain fitness level to cycle but that isn’t the case; you can easily get an electric bike. The pedal assist motor reduces the difficulty, making these types of bikes particularly ideal for the elderly, people with low fitness levels, or those who have suffered an injury.
As we have seen all over the news, commuting is becoming harder than ever – just look at the huge service disruption caused by Southern Rail. Cycling is a more reliable alternative to commuting by train, and it’s greener. It’s difficult in busy cities such as London where there is a lot of traffic which is impacting road surfaces, which makes it even harder for cyclists to remain safe. It’s imperative that if you’re cycling you wear protective, reflective gear to ensure drivers are as least likely to miss you as possible. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources highlighting key blind spots in cities and areas where accidents are more common, just like the one on Bike Radar.
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