A favoured pastime by many across the nation, cycling on Britain’s roads can come with great risk. Latest government statistics show that 4,056 cyclists were reported seriously injured across Great Britain in one year.
UK’s Top 10 Safest Cities for Cyclists
The research reveals that Bristol is the UK’s safest city for cyclists followed by Derby and Leicester.
- Bristol
- Derby
- Leicester
- Nottingham
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
- Kingston Upon Hull
- Aberdeen
- Wolverhampton
- Sunderland
- Edinburgh
UK Cities with the Worst Roads/Pavements
As of July 2024, Newcastle had the fewest reports logged on the condition of roads / highways / pavements on a per capita basis, with 82 reports per 100k of the population. Followed by Leicester and Nottingham. By contrast, Sheffield had the most reports at 595 per 100k of the population.
- Sheffield
- Peterborough
- Manchester
- Southampton
- Birmingham
Traffic volume can hugely impact safety for cyclists, requiring them to be even more aware of their surroundings. The data highlighted Southampton as the least busy city, with over 603 million vehicle miles of traffic travelled in the city in 2023. Unsurprisingly, London had the most traffic on an annual basis – with 19.2 billion vehicle miles of traffic travelled in 2023.
The analysis also looked at annual climate normals in each city to understand where cyclists would be most impacted by the elements. Peterborough was the least likely to rain on any given day, with a 31% chance of rain, followed by London (31.2%). Glasgow was the most likely to rain – with a 47.8% chance of rain on any given day. Swansea was the windiest city in the dataset while Manchester transpired as the least windy city, with a monthly mean wind speed of 4.24 knots at 10m.
Callum Butler at ALA insurance commented, “Bristol’s top ranking as the safest city for cyclists is a testament to the city’s commitment to creating a welcoming environment for cyclists. The city has opted to pedestrianise two key roads and ban most vehicles from certain parts of the city. This comprehensive analysis underscores the importance of well-maintained infrastructure, supportive local businesses, and favourable weather conditions in ensuring a safer and more enjoyable cycling experience. As we continue to see a rise in cycling across the UK, it’s crucial for cities to take note of what will help keep our cyclists safer on the road.”
ALA delves deeper into the new research online to help advise cyclists on where is safest for them to ride.
