HL Deb 10 July 1990 vol 521 cc257-8WA
Lord Rea

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What figures are available for the ownership or use of pedal cycles in the United Kingdom for each of the past 10 years.

Viscount Davidson

There are no annual figures for cycle ownership. Cyclists are not licensed, nor are bicycles registered, so their numbers can only be estimated from surveys. The following details have been derived from the National Travel Surveys:—

Number of bicycles in GB
Million
1975–76 7.32
1978–79 9.47
1985–86 13.14

The estimated volume of pedal cycle traffic is published annually in the Government's Transport Statistics (HMSO). Figures for 1978 and the period 1984–1988, are:

Billion vehicle kilometers
Kilometres
1978 5.11
1984 6.41
1985 6.08
1986 5.48
1987 5.74
1988 4.97

It is estimated that some 11 million people cycle on Britain's roads at least once a year. In an average week about 3.6 million of them use their bicycles. Over 1 million people cycle to work regularly.