Cycle to Work Day is an annual event to celebrate people who choose two wheels over four and encourages more people to try it. Getting people to switch their car to a bike, however, takes more than a day and is a journey in itself.
Annette Moore (54) who has been helped to cycle to work through Sustrans workplaces programme. Pictured at her workplace in Belfast with the foldable bike she borrowed.
For years government policy in Northern Ireland has described the importance of modal shift to active travel because of the huge benefits it brings to society and the individual.
More people cycling cuts traffic congestion, which costs the UK economy an estimated £7.7bn/year; reduces air pollution and is enormously beneficial for the cyclist’s health and well-being. Yet the percentage of journeys by bike in Northern Ireland has remained stubbornly stuck at 1% for more than a decade.
In the Walking and Cycling Index survey for Belfast, as many as 30% of Belfast residents say they want to drive less, yet 38% of residents often use a car because no other transport options are available.
So why is it so difficult to get modal shift and is there more that can be done to make it happen?
Walking and Cycling Index Belfast 2023
30%
of Belfast residents say they want to drive less
Annette Moore’s journey to cycling is a good example of the reality on the ground. The 54-year-old lives just two miles from her workplace at Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast. She currently drives to work but is keen to cycle instead.
Through Sustrans’ Leading the Way programme, funded by the Public Health Agency, Annette took part in a series of lunchtime cycles at the nearby Musgrave Park. She hadn’t cycled since she was a child but found the lunchtime cycles really enjoyable.
“I like walking, and I’d previously completed the Couch to 5km and had taken up jogging,” she said. “I found there is a freedom that comes with cycling – you can go a bit further and it’s good to get outside. Cycling is beneficial for both physical and mental health.”
David Tumilty, Health Improvement Manager, PHA said:
“Cycle to Work day is a great chance to celebrate anyone who chooses to cycle to work, and encourage everyone to experience the many benefits that cycling can bring.
"Regular cycling is a great way to build physical activity into your daily routine – it helps improve cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, supports mental wellbeing and can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight.
“Choosing to cycle also benefits the environment by reducing air pollution and cutting down carbon emissions, helping to create cleaner, healthier places for us all to live and work.
"I would encourage anyone to use Cycle to Work Day as inspiration to give it a go – even small changes like, swapping one or two car journeys a week for a bike ride can make a real difference."
Annette stepped up a gear by enrolling in Sustrans’ six-week Women into Cycling course and achieved her Level 2 on-road cycle training.
“I really enjoyed it. Dianne Whyte who runs the course is brilliant. It helped give me the confidence to try to cycle on roads.”
Despite only living two miles from work, Annette would have to navigate one of the busiest roads in Northern Ireland – Stockman’s Lane which connects south Belfast to the west of the city and the M1 motorway.
"I know I could do the journey in 15 to 20 minutes but I’m fearful of the traffic particularly during the busiest times of the day.”
Essentially despite being a capable cyclist, Annette has no safe, continuous cycle route to reach her workplace at the Belfast Trust – one of the biggest employers in the city.
Annette has borrowed a foldable e-bike from Sustrans and is planning to continue her journey to get more active.
“My grandson is now out on his bike, and I want to be able to show him how to cycle safely from what I’ve learned with Sustrans,” she said.
“My aim is to go to Amsterdam with my daughter where it is so much safer to cycle.”
“I would totally recommend people take up cycling to avail of cycling schemes in the workplace to enable cycling to work if they can. Providing safe routes for cycling is vital. As well as that sometimes all you need is that bit of support and confidence to get on your bike.”
The Department for Infrastructure published the Belfast Cycling Network Plan in 2022 and several schemes are at design stage.
Sustrans view is that there is strong evidence that the lack of infrastructure is the biggest barrier to getting more people cycling but it is also important to provide behaviour change programmes, like Leading the Way to give people the confidence and skills to begin a travel habit for life not just one day.