> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://bristol-uncovered.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Where have the cyclists gone? - URL: https://bristol-uncovered.uk/where-have-the-cyclists-gone/ - Published: 2026-03-03T22:32:26.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-05T20:10:12.000Z - Author: Chris McEvoy ****Update: 05/03** \- It has been pointed out that I have understated the amount of change in the numbers. ****It is actually a 14% drop, not 4%**. ### News Headline (Bristol 24/7 - 3rd March 2026) "[Walking and cycling in Bristol save NHS more than £15m a year](https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/walking-and-cycling-in-bristol-save-nhs-more-than-15m-a-year/?ref=bristol-uncovered.uk)". But perhaps the real headline should have been: ****"Bristol residents who cycle more than once a week has dropped by 4% since 2023 (from 28% to 24%)".** The author of the news article is [Martin Booth](https://www.bristol247.com/author/martin-booth/?ref=bristol-uncovered.uk), who is a well known advocate for cycling in Bristol. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-30.png) It was surprising to see that the article didn't specifically talk about cycling. This news article uses information from the "[Bristol’s 2025 Walking and Cycling Index](https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/media/c4clxyvr/260225-walking-and-cycling-index-bristol-digital-v3b.pdf?ref=bristol-uncovered.uk)" which is produced by Sustrans (*or the Wheel Walk Cycle Trust as they are now known*). [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-28.png)](https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/media/c4clxyvr/260225-walking-and-cycling-index-bristol-digital-v3b.pdf?ref=bristol-uncovered.uk) This report has been published every 2 years since 2015\. But you can see that it has moved away from it's "Better by Bike" focus and now talks about Walking and as well. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-29.png) Looking at the reports over the years, they have reported the measure of "Residents who cycle at least once a week", but in the most recent report they didn't call out the reduction of 4% from the 2023 figure. You might think that the first ever drop in this measure (from 28% to 24%) is something that should be reported on. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-31.png) --- I have analysed the data from [these reports](https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/the-walking-and-cycling-index/bristol-walking-and-cycling-index/?ref=bristol-uncovered.uk) to help people understand the changes in cycling in Bristol. You can find the reports on [BU Reports](https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNmY0MWUwMzUtMjdiNS00MWI3LThiMzQtMzk4MjAzOGU4NmFmIiwidCI6IjFmNzcyZmI5LTg4NDAtNGEyYS04N2M0LTM1YWM5OGNjZjZkOSJ9&ref=bristol-uncovered.uk). Look for the "Cycling Index" button on the Site Map. --- ## Residents who cycle at least once a week ### All Back at 2015 levels. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-47.png) ### Gender "Women" have **increased by 1%**, but "Men" have **dropped by 10%** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-33.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-34.png) ### Ethnicity "Ethnic Minorities" and "White" have both **dropped by 5%** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-35.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-36.png) ### Socio Economic Group *Descriptions from* [*Office for National Statistics*](https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/aboutcensus/censusproducts/approximatedsocialgradedata?ref=bristol-uncovered.uk) - **AB*: Higher and intermediate managerial, administrative and professional occupations* - **C1*: Supervisory, clerical, and junior managerial, administrative and professional occupations* - **C2*: Skilled manual occupations* - **DE*: Semi-skilled and unskilled manual occupations; unemployed and lowest grade occupations* The "lowest" group have seen an **increase of 5%**, whilst the "posh" people have **dropped by 8%** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-37.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-38.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-39.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-40.png) ### Age "16 to 25" have **increased by 4%**, and "66+" have **increased by 1%** All other age groups have dropped, with "26 to 35" **dropping by 11%** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-41.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-42.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-43.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-44.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-45.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7e/00/7e00f3c6-351e-48d6-a922-14b85820294b/content/images/2026/03/image-46.png) --- I will leave it to other people to discuss the reasons for these changes, but I hope my data analysis will help inform those discussions.