London Cyclist Numbers More Than Double Year on Year

The number of cyclists in London has grown by nearly 120 per cent as people have turned to bikes as their transport method of choice during the coronavirus pandemic.

New data released on 25th September 2020 by Strava Metro showed the number of people newly taking up cycling in the capital peaked in May, with 119 per cent year-on-year growth.

Strava Metro, is the business platform of fitness app Strava.

Head of Strava Metro, Gareth Nettleton, insisted the figures point to the need to ensure the pandemic cycling boom does not become a ‘Covid related blip’, but a long-term shift.

He said, “As the capital entered lockdown, the insights showed a clear shift in behaviour as people opted for cycling and walking over other transport options. Yet, we’ve also seen that once lockdown restrictions were lifted, the dramatic increases seen in people on bikes during peak lockdown have started to fall away as the amount of vehicles on the roads started to return to pre-pandemic levels.”

This article was first published in the Evening Standard.

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