More people turn to walking and cycling as fuel costs rise

Rising fuel costs as a result of the war in Iran have exposed how quickly increases in transport costs are felt by households across the UK, with almost three in 10 UK drivers (28%) cycling or walking more, swapping car journeys for more affordable alternatives.

This is according to new YouGov research, commissioned by Cycling UK, which surveyed more than 2,000 adults across the UK. A further 15% are also actively considering taking this action, showing that people are prepared to consider alternatives to driving.

People who drive are also relying more on public transport to save on fuel, with 23% of respondents stating they are using buses and trains to replace car journeys and a further 13% are also currently considering doing this.

Over a quarter of UK drivers (27%) are also choosing to reduce the number of times they go out to save on fuel costs, according to the research. Should prices remain high, this number is likely to rise significantly, with 19% saying they are currently considering cutting back on going out.

Increased isolation and social exclusion

These results are a stark demonstration of the social impacts of the Iran conflict, with increased isolation and social exclusion a real risk if the UK and devolved governments do not take action to give people more, and more affordable, transport options.

We're calling for an urgent package of measures from the UK and devolved governments to make it easier for people to cycle and walk more. Such measures could include financial support to give more people access to bikes and electric bikes, steps to make local roads safer and tax incentives.

Sarah Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cycling UK, said: 

People need to travel and they need to be able to do this affordably. That includes alternatives to driving, particularly for those who simply won’t be able to keep up with rising costs.

 

It protects people who would otherwise be exposed to rising fuel costs when a crisis like this hits, and allows people to continue making their everyday journeys.

With so many people turning to cycling and walking instead of driving, we urgently need a package of measures to make cycling feel like a safe and viable option for local journeys.

“As well as saving money when prices are rising, more people cycling and walking means fewer people using limited fuel reserves, which is good news for everyone.

Rising fuel costs impact on women

A closer look at the data also revealed gender differences in how rising fuel costs are affecting people’s everyday life. Women who drive were more likely than men to report cutting back on going out, with 29% of women saying they have reduced the number of times they go out, compared with 25% of men.

More women than men had been prevented from visiting family or friends (15% vs 13%), travelling to take part in a leisure activity (15% vs 10%), or travelling to the countryside or other green spaces (13% vs 10%), which point to a greater impact of rising transport costs on women’s mobility and access to everyday opportunities.

However, while women are being impacted more and need more transport options, men were almost twice as likely to say they had bought a bicycle in response to higher fuel prices (13% of men compared with 7% of women), underpinning longstanding barriers to cycling uptake among women.

These findings closely mirror issues raised by Cycling UK’s ‘My ride. Our right’ campaign, which highlights the gender gap in cycling and the need for safer streets and better‑designed infrastructure.