Although levels of cycling have risen significantly since the pandemic – up 33% in the year to 30 July, according to figures from the Department for Transport (DfT), sales of new bikes have not kept pace. Industry insiders say more needs to be done to boost cycling uptake, including investment in infrastructure, secure bike parking and subsidies and e-bike charging networks. According to the latest market report from the Cycling Association, bike sales fell by more than a quarter from pre-Covid levels from January to June. Sales of hybrid and children’s bikes, considered the two most “mainstream” categories, are most affected, while the “enthusiast” categories of road and gravel bikes have increased. Bike sales are generally linked to cycling levels. “Things are very difficult right now,” said Steve Garidis, executive director of the Bicycle Association. “As of May 2021 sales are tracking at lower pre-Covid levels, and if we strip out the big 2020 boom in cycling and sales, we are now doing worse than before Covid hit. “When I look at the comparison between the UK and what’s happening in Europe, it’s a bit disappointing, it’s a bit stark. There is a clear sense that we have been left behind, both in terms of the size and value of the cycling market, but also in terms of how people get around, both for leisure and for everyday use. [cycling trips]. The association says the cost of living crisis is clashing with falling demand for bikes, while prices have risen and the pound is weakening against the dollar. Charity Cycling UK believes part of the growth in cycling, which it says accelerated in March, is due to rising fuel prices encouraging more people to switch to bikes for some journeys, but warns growth could be reversed if fuel prices fall unless cycling infrastructure is improved. Garidis added: “Even the growth of e-bikes, which was quite stratospheric and driving the whole market, has stopped and is flat. It’s clear that e-bikes have a huge application in getting people on the bike … and we’re missing out.” E-cycles are the most natural ‘car replacement’ and account for 9% of UK bike purchases. However, in Europe e-bikes make up 23% of sales. The UK and German markets are similar in size, but only 165,000 e-bikes are sold annually in the UK compared to 2 million in Germany. The government has set a target for half of all short journeys to be made by walking or cycling by 2030 in England. In 2019, more than 60% of trips between one and two miles were made. Research shows that most people want to cycle more and support cycling investment, but fear of car traffic is the number one barrier. In May, Cycling UK was selected to run a national e-cycle support scheme, which will include short and long-term loans and trials of e-bikes. However, the scheme appears to have stalled and neither Cycling UK nor the Department for Transport were able to discuss its status or when it would restart. Around 190,000 electric cars are registered in the UK in 2021, just 15,000 more than e-cycles, but there are more than 30,000 e-car charging points and only 16 e-cycle charging points. Subscribe to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am Garidis said: “I think if you had partnerships, partnerships with national coffee chains or hotels or other kind of practical everyday destinations, where there might be a mutual benefit in attracting new customers who come on two wheels instead of four, people [may] notice and think “I could do that”. However, he added, there are other pressing issues. “There is just a huge lack of infrastructure in terms of parking at the moment. Obviously, there is a lot of focus [on] bike lanes, which is great, but you need somewhere to lock the bike when you get to the other end.” Garidis urged the government to introduce subsidies for e-bikes: “It was the big difference between what the UK did to promote uptake compared to what Europe did and you can see the results.” A DfT spokesman said: “E-cycles are a vital part of our ambitious drive to increase active travel and we are investing in a wide range of measures to support more people to use them and reduce emissions. This includes a £42m commitment to improve cycle storage at train stations and cycle routes to stations, £8m for a national e-cycle pilot to boost take-up and the introduction of tax benefits for buying e-cycles through the ‘Cycle at work” .”
