WORCESTER had one of the highest proportions of cyclists in the West Midlands last year, new figures show.

The charity Cycling UK said many councils have invested in improving infrastructure, despite cycling remaining below pre-pandemic levels nationally.

Figures from the Active Lives Survey from Sport England, compiled by the Department for Transport, show 13.2 per cent of people in Worcester were cycling at least once a week in the year to November 2023 – one of the highest levels across the West Midlands.

This was up from 7.7 per cent the year before, and an increase from 9.4 per cent in 2019, before the pandemic.

Across the country, 10.1 per cent of people reported cycling weekly, up from 9.3 per cent the previous year, but still below pre-pandemic levels, when 11.2 per cent did so.

Dan Brothwell, chair of Bike Worcester said: "This is fantastic news and no surprise to Worcester's cycling community.

"At certain times of the day, cycling is the quickest mode of transport around Worcester, while also being the cheapest, healthiest and most energy-efficient.

"This is only a start to what could be done with cycling in Worcester."

Sarah McMonagle, director of external affairs at Cycling UK, said: “Although it’s true that the percentage of people who cycle regularly in England has dropped slightly in recent years, there are fewer people regularly using all modes of transport, except for walking and motorcycling, than in 2019.

“This is due to a myriad of factors, but the rise of remote working post-pandemic is likely a significant one.

“The truth is, most roads in England lack joined-up cycle lanes or bike parking and where they do exist, they’re often inconsistent and sub-standard and this plays a big part in deterring people from cycling more.”

Mr Brothwell added: "It is imperative that we have safe cycling routes around the city, which means traffic regulation orders in Worcester have got to change."

The survey also revealed a gap in cycling habits between the least and most deprived. While 11.1% of those better off cycled weekly, only 8.7% of those in the most deprived areas did.