England’s cycle trips stay consistent; Average cycle trips are now 24 mins long

The latest statistics from England’s National Travel Survey, covering 2024, are in and have revealed that trip rates using active transport modes (such as walking and cycling) remained similar to the previous year.

According to the report, the time spent on average cycle trips time is 24 minutes (versus 22 minutes per car driver trip and 18 minutes per walking trip).

Broadly, average trips made by people living in England remained similar in 2024 compared to 2023, however, trip rates were slightly lower than in 2019, with 922 trips made on average in 2024. In 2024, people made 922 trips person, travelled 6,082 miles per person and spent on average 362 hours per person travelling.

The National Travel Survey data is getting better: more individuals fully participated in the survey (up 20% on the previous year, to 14,102 individuals). Data is collected through interviews and a seven day travel diary.

While doubtless the industry wanted to see cycle trip numbers rise, given the roller coaster nature of the previous few years, consistency is probably a positive. The National Travel Survey found that, broadly, personal travel remained similar in 2024 compared to 2023 and noted this meant personal travel had not returned to pre-pandemic trends.

Predictably, London is an outlier. A quarter of Londoners now cycle, with numbers up on pre-pandemic times. Earlier this year, 12 of England’s Mayors committed to bolstering active travel in their regions through a national active travel network to boost walking, wheeling and cycling in the country, with a focus on schools.

The National Travel Survey: access to pedal cycles

The Survey also updated the stats in relation to individuals access to pedal cycles. In the 2023-2024 period, it found 41% of those aged 5 and over owns or has access to a pedal cycle. That total has stayed pretty consistent (it was 43% in 2002-2004). Age brackets within that have shifted more substantially, including the 60 and overs, which hit 25% in 2023-2024, compared with 16% in 2002-2004. There are a number of conclusions that can be extrapolated from that: Presumably more than 43% of the nation’s individuals would like access to pedal cycles so there’s an opportunity there. And those 60-and-over numbers perhaps hint that this age group has reacted positively to greater cycle opportunities for them – presumably including electric bicycles.

PIC CREDIT: Active Travel England