Why Invest in Leisure Cycling

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Why Invest in Leisure Cycling?

• Adrian Lord, Arup
• Consultant to Cycling England

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The Economics of Cycling

• Cycling England investment based on people.
  Having identified the people it is then easy to
  look at places and journeys and therefore
  what measures will stimulate, encourage, enable
  and support cycling
• People targeted to date include
• Children and young people Bikeability
  training, Links to School and Bike It Derby,
  Exeter
• People living along a named route Aylesbury
• Employees tax-free bike scheme, Bike User
  Groups
• Health referrals Guided rides, training,
  exercise on prescription
• New schemes to target rail commuters, NHS
  workplaces, leisure cyclists in 2009 - 11

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Aylesburys Gemstone Cycleways
Brightons Cycle Freeway
Exeters Exe Estuary
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Gaining support for cycling

• Getting people to cycle requires appropriate
  expertise backed by enthusiasm and determination
  within organisations to overcome political /
  social / technical issues
• One such barrier is the perception of value for
  money by decision makers i.e. Nobody will
  come, its too hilly, too rainy for cycling here
  or we spent all that money and you only see 6
  people a day on it
• Transport more important than Leisure cycling?

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Why invest in leisure cycling?

• Majority of cycling is for pleasure and
  recreation (80), especially in rural areas
• Journey purpose is irrelevant to the personal
  health benefits of cycling and the consequent
  economic benefits
• Potential to bring expenditure and employment
  into an area
• Sustainable tourism transport one of biggest
  sources of air pollution in National Parks
• It may be an entry point for other cycling
  much easier way to start riding for fun than
  riding to work

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What is it worth nationally?

• Research economists SQW were commissioned to
  bring together some values for cycling including
• Health
• Reduced mortality (CHD, stroke and colon cancer)
• Reduced NHS costs
• Reduced absenteeism (increased productivity)
• Pollution (reductions in car use reduced
  emissions)
• Congestion (benefits to other road users)
• Does not cover benefits to childrens health,
  contribution to reducing obesity, mental welfare,
  or social benefits such as improving access and
  inclusion

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Healthcare cost of the active person versus the
sedentary
Cost of healthcare
High cost Low cost
Sedentary Active
20 40 60
80
Years of life
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Pollution
The savings from switching from a car to a
bicycle for a commuting journey are generated by
quantifying the benefits of protecting health as
well as the value of reducing greenhouse gas
emissions
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Congestion
Calculation based on research on value of savings
for other road users. The value of substituting
car for cycle trips is higher in areas of greater
congestion, creating greater savings for cycling
investment in cities than in rural areas.
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Valuing the benefits of cycling

• The value of cycling is higher where
• Less active people become more active
• Older people are persuaded to cycle
• Where cycling replaces a car trip, particularly
  in urban areas
• Where the journey is a regular trip
• These are conservative indications - no
  allowance has been made for reductions in obesity
  / for children cycling / for the social benefits
  of cycling

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The most valuable cyclists also coincide with
one of the key market segments for UK tourism
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Summary of Benefits

• Bringing together the range of values associated
  with additional cycling produces significant
  benefit
• Estimated economic benefit is between 87 and
  382 per cyclist per year depending on
  characteristics and trips
• These are likely to be conservative estimates
• The calculation of benefits provides a benchmark
  for assessing value for money
• This economic case for cycling will become
  stronger, as the costs of inactivity, obesity,
  pollution and congestion continue to grow

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Projecting the potential for cycling to generate
future value
Cumulative values generated as a result of
increases of 20 (return to 1995 levels), 30 and
50 in the number of cycle trips made between
2005 and 2015

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Projecting the potential for cycling to generate
future value to the economy
Cumulative values generated as a result of
increases of 20, 30 and 50 in the number of
cycle trips made between 2005 and 2015

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Cost Benefit Ratios

1 Benefits for Bike It are lower than other
interventions because the health (and safety)
related benefits for children cannot be
quantified.
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How many new cyclists does it take for
infrastructure to pay for itself?
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Evidence of increased cycling following
investment

• Average increase in Cycling Towns is 27 during
  first 3 years
• Typically 50 - 100 new (and sustained) cyclists
  at every school following Bikeability / Bike It
  plus infrastructure
• Massive take up of Tax-Free bike scheme and
  increasing volume and value of cycle sales
• 68 increase in U16 participation in British
  Cycling events

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Successful Leisure Cycling Projects

• Sustrans National Cycle Network
• Forestry Commission MTB centres
• Tarka Trail, Camel Trail Family trails
• C2C Route challenge routes
• Events Sky rides, Sportives, Charity Rides,
  Bike Time rides

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Cycling Englands Leisure Cycling Projects

• 3 projects funded to 2011
• Peak District
• Devon County Council
• Forestry Commission/Hoseasons sites
• Aims to offer a memorable cycling experience
  for visitors and follow up with support to help
  them continue cycling at home
• Attempts to engage with near market of people
  willing to try cycling occasionally

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Cycling Englands Leisure Cycling Projects

• Projects go live from Easter 2010
• Some infrastructure, but mainly delivered through
  marketing and partnerships for bike hire etc
• Will also contribute knowledge to the gap in
  current research about links between leisure
  cycling and utility cycling

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Questions and further information

• Cycling England website Smart measures
  portfolio and case studies (www.dft.gov.uk/cycling
  england)
• Cycling England advice team
• info_at_cyclingengland.co.uk
• Adrian Lord
• 0121 213 3650
• adrian.lord_at_cyclingengland.co.uk