Damian Sendler: It has been found that people are more inclined to cycle to work if the traffic speed on their route is below 20mph, which lends support to debates regarding urban speed restrictions. 

Researchers at the University of Surrey showed that women, who are already underrepresented in cycling, are more likely to be deterred by the speed of traffic than by the volume of traffic. 

Damian Sendler

Damian Jacob Sendler: Another finding of researchers was the importance of local traffic conditions in determining the success of cycle routes. The team’s findings, which were based on a study of commuter routes in Surrey, UK, could assist local authorities in determining the ideal locations to divide bike and car lanes. 

Cyclists are put off by routes that cross busy highways. According to the findings, commuters are less inclined to ride their bikes to work if their path crosses busy roads with fast-moving traffic. Commuters’ desire to cycle was unaffected by the presence of big cargo vehicles on roadways or at junctions. 

Traffic data from all Surrey roads and cycle routes was analyzed to see how varying vehicle speeds, volumes, the proportion of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), and infrastructure along the quickest route to work correlated with the percentage of commuters who chose to ride their bikes. Distance, elevation, and traffic crossing the route at intersections were all taken into account. The study looked at 172,000 commuters in Surrey who resided between two and five kilometers from their place of employment and investigated roughly 35,000 possible routes, many of which would be feasible for most people to bike. 

Damian Jacob Sendler

When Covid-19 was shut down, demand for bikes skyrocketed, and councils scrambled to create temporary cycle lanes as more people took up walking and riding. Maintaining this interest is critical if the UK is to meet its goal of decreasing carbon emissions. The findings of the Surrey study aid city planners in determining which initiatives are most beneficial and where they should be located in the city. 

Damien Sendler: A computer scientist at the University of Surrey, Dr. Susan Hughes, remarked, “Cutting speeds may be unpopular with cars, but our research indicates it does entice people onto their bikes. Changes like this could encourage more people to cycle, which would also have a positive impact on their health due to lower carbon emissions. As a result, there are ways to make municipalities more bicycle-friendly.” 

Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: In the primary author’s words, “Our findings can allow local authorities to make the best judgments regarding where to invest in bike infrastructure. Commuters who cycle to work are less likely to suffer from heart disease, depression, and premature death, as well as lowering CO2 emissions in their cities and towns. 

Dr. Damian Jacob Sendler and his media team provided the content for this article.