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Bicycle versus driving in nine UK cities

Written by Fiona

May 09 2017

Bike Week takes place this month. The aim of the annual campaign, from June 10 to 18, 2017, is to get more people on their bikes for everyday transport – and to show everyone the benefits of cycling.

This year’s Bike Week has a special focus to encourage more people to use their bikes for cycling to work.

Whether you aim to cycle all the way to work each day or a few times a week, or you use your car and your bike in combination to get to work, you’ll find there are rewards both for your fitness and saving money.

But if you plan to ride your bike to work and you live in a UK city, do you know how long it will take compared to driving or using public transport? Family-run cycling store Leisure Lakes Bikes has taken a closer look.

Glasgow

City route: From Hampden Park to Glasgow Central Station

It should take 16 minutes to complete the journey by cycling the quickest route, via Aikenhead Rd/A728.

By car the time is 22 minutes by taking the quickest route when driving (via Cathcart Rd) and by public transport – via the ScotRail line from Mount Florida – is 16 minutes.

This means that cycling and public transport are joint fastest.

Edinburgh

City route: From Fort Kinnaird to Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station

A driver would take 20 minutes by car while the journey by bus is 27 minutes. On a bike it’s also 27 minutes via the National Cycle Route 1.

I know which I’d prefer to do.

London

City route: From Royal London Hospital to King’s Cross Station

Driving the route takes 33 mins while public transport (the Hammersmith & City underground from Whitechapel) is 29 mins.

By bike, the journey is 27 minutes via the A5201.

The fastest form of transport is cycling.

City cycling. Pic credit: ProfDEH

Birmingham

City route: From Cadbury World to Birmingham New Street Station

While driving would take 17 mins and public transport is 26 mins, by bicycle the journey is 23 mins.

In this city, the fastest form of transport is the car but not be a huge amount.

Leeds

City route: From Kirkstall Abbey to Leeds Station

By car, the trip is 18 mins and by public transport it’s 28 mins, yet by bike it’s just 20 minutes.

The car just pips the bike in this city.

Sheffield

City route: From Meadowhall Centre to Sheffield Train Station

A 14-minute car journey takes 24 minutes by public transport and 22 minutes by bicycle.

This makes driving the fastest across Sheffield but the bike is still quicker than public transport,

Bristol

City route: From Woodspring Golf & Country Club to Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station

An 18-minute car journey takes 23 minutes to complete by taking the quickest route by public transport. By bike, the route via the A38 is 22 minutes.

So the bike is the second fastest form of transport in Bristol for this journey.

Cardiff

City route: From Radyr Golf Club to Cardiff Central Railway Station

It would take 20 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving, via Llantrisant Rd/A4119 and the A4119, and 27 minutes to complete the journey by public transport.

Bu bicycle on the National Cycle Route 8 it’s 28 minutes.

The fastest form of transport is driving with a bike ride just eight minutes behind.

Belfast

City route: From Balmoral Golf Club to Belfast Central Station

By car the journey is 15 minutes while by public transport it’s 25 minutes. On a bike you can expect to take 18 mins, via the A1 and National Cycle Route 9.

Why not try cycling to work in Bike week 2017 and see how it goes for you?

Leisure Lakes Bikes has teamed up with the Green Commute Initiative in order to make the change not only an easy one but a lot less stressful on the purse strings. Click here to find out more about the partnership.

Journey times taken from figures recorded by Google Maps between 08.30 and 10.30 GMT on 23/12/2016.

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