Cycling in England Shows Mixed Trends as Legal E-bike Use Rises but Safety Concerns Persist
England's cycling habits have shown a complex picture following the Covid-19 period, with overall cycle trips broadly static since a temporary spike during the pandemic. London stands out, reporting a cycling boom with around 1.5 million trips per day, marking a 43% increase compared to 2019 figures.
Despite this growth in trips, the UK saw its lowest conventional bike sales this century in 2024, with Brompton folding bike sales in December reaching their lowest level since 2021. London demonstrates a shift within cycling patterns, featuring a growing share of electric-assist bikes and Lime hire bikes, reflecting broader changes in the cycling landscape.
A significant challenge emerges from the disparity between legal e-bikes and illegal high-speed electric bikes. These illegal models are often not effectively policed, which impacts safety perceptions. Regulatory and safety concerns are heightened by delivery riders and a prevalence of high-speed e-bikes, prompting calls for speed checks and regulations on bike fleets.
Comparatively, Europe has seen robust e-bike sales, exceeding 5 million across four countries in 2025. The UK may sell about 150,000 e-bikes this year, but efforts to encourage cycling more broadly are hampered by insufficient subsidies and infrastructure investments. UK subsidies for e-bikes and road safety improvements lag behind continental peers, limiting cycling's transition from a leisure activity to a more utilitarian mode of transport.
Experts emphasize that broader cycling adoption will depend on making roads safer and investing in proper infrastructure, as riders are unlikely to embrace cycling if they do not feel secure away from motor traffic. Sustained, long-term political leadership and investment are also essential to grow cycling beyond London, a city that has benefited from decades of focused support under successive mayors including Livingstone, Johnson, and Khan.
