August 2012
Featured in this insight: Central government & non-department public bodies, Sports & physical activity
Market research uncovers top UK health spots for frequent cycling: A nationwide survey of 160,000 Britons carried out on behalf of the Government has revealed that adults in Cambridge are more likely to cycle regularly than anywhere else in the UK.
At 52%, the city has the highest proportion of residents in the UK who ride their bike at least once a week.
In addition, 43% of respondents from Cambridge reported cycling at least three times a week, and 37% cycled five times a week or more. These figures rate far above the national averages of 4% and 3% respectively.
Oxford ranked second place health-wise for regular cycling amongst residents at 30%. It was followed by Gosport (24%) and York (23%), which are both characterised by having a large student population and a flat landscape.
South Cambridgeshire ranked fifth place in the study, with 22% of locals cycling at least once a week compared to the national average of 10%.
A Cambridge Cycling Campaign spokesman commented on their city topping the health survey: "Recent years of investment in higher quality cycling infrastructure, new bridges, improved links to the surrounding villages, have all resulted in Cambridge continuing to be confirmed as the cycling capital of the UK.”
He added however: "These numbers, however, reflect the poor level of cycling in UK compared with the Netherlands or Denmark, where the levels of cycling is significantly higher. We still have a long way to go to create a healthy, vibrant, and congestion-free region."
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