By Johnny Sharp

The ongoing conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East has impacted the transport sector more than most areas of the global economy, pushing up the price of fuel thanks to the disruption in key energy trade routes. But while there are never many positives that come out of global conflict, one consequence is a significant increase in active travel.

According to a survey of more than 2,000 people commissioned by Cycling UK, 28% of regular car drivers reported driving less and cycling or walking more since the war began impacting fuel prices. Other responses included using public transport instead of driving (23%) and car‑sharing (9%).

The report’s findings echo those of a survey conducted in June by temporary car insurance specialists Tempcover, which found that an even higher portion of motorists (44%) said they are driving less, with 39% walking and cycling more, and 26% switching to public transport.

With ministers estimating that higher fuel prices could continue for the best part of a year even if lasting peace was achieved in Iran, the challenge for active travel campaigners is to build on this development to change people’s travel habits in the long term.

Factors for success

Successfully encouraging people to swap their cars for a bike depends on many factors, but one of the main ones is safety.

“When Cycling UK carries out a survey, one of the more consistent results is that two-thirds of people say they are put off from cycling because they don’t think it feels safe enough,” says Duncan Dollimore, associate director of Cycling UK. “Our campaign, ‘My Ride. Our Right’, has been specifically geared around adjusting the gender gap. We called on the government to address this in their recent cycling and walking investment strategy, and we were highly critical that they didn’t put gender-related targets in that strategy. Improving the design of the infrastructure, lighting and secure parking would make women’s journeys safer.”

Other factors standing in the way of active travel adoption are cost and convenience. The former of those considerations is now coming into focus with the rise in fuel prices, but Dollimore would like to see more done to facilitate and incentivise modal shift, tempting regular drivers to consider other ways of getting around.

“We can say to people, ‘If you cycle, it will save you x pounds per week’,” he says, “but if you don’t physically have access to a working bike, there’s an upfront cost to obtaining one.”

Dollimore suggests changes to the cycle-to-work tax benefit scheme could be an effective way to help more people own a bike. “It currently works pretty well for people in long-term salaried employment above a certain level, but not for anyone who’s self-employed or on limited income. If it was rebranded as a cycle-for-health scheme and the tax benefits applied more broadly, it would be a massive boost to people looking to use a bike for day-to-day work routines. There’s also a massive space for try-before-you-buy schemes, linked to discounts or subsidies that could enable people to purchase a bike more easily.”

Better choice, better travel

Dollimore is keen to stress that his is not an anti-car crusade, but one that aims to offer more transport choices. “We’re not trying to say people shouldn’t drive. What we do say is that people should have options, whether that’s comfortable, reliable public transport, being able to walk a pleasant short journey to where they want to go, or have cycling as a safe, affordable choice. That will reduce car dependency and make life easier for those who still have to drive, easing congestion and making transport more convenient and safer for everyone.”

• To find out more about the Cycling UK report, click here.

• For the full range of CIHT resources on active travel, click here.