The Love to Ride Blog

With the latest round of 44 LSTF(2) awards now confirmed across England, we take a look at last year's LSTF-funded programme outcomes to see how our mix of technology, creativity, and good old human interaction is working better than ever at getting more people enjoying cycling.

In 2013, Challenge for Change fully rolled out the new Love to Ride platform, delivering Cycle Challenge programmes in towns and cities across Britain. As far apart in the UK as Jersey, York, Swansea and Belfast, Love to Ride criss-crossed the country on a mission to get as many people as possible in the saddle and enjoying cycling.

Our 2013 LSTF programme results include:

• 16,591 participants from 1,069 organisations
• 113,591 trips were logged, altogether cycling a staggering 1,120,620 miles - that's almost 5 times the distance from Earth to the moon!

These numbers show that Love to Ride's Cycle Challenges in 2013 got a lot of pedals turning, but in order to measure their success in changing behaviour, it is necessary to look at the data in more detail.

Data Collection Method

Participants complete a short but crucial baseline survey when they registered on Love to Ride. By measuring this data against the results of follow-up surveys conducted at key intervals after each Challenge, we can analyse how each Challenge led to positive changes in behaviour, encouraging people to take up cycling as both a leisure activity and for transport.

The analysis shows: more people cycling, more often

Here's what the Challenge programmes achieved in 2013:

• 54% of non-cyclists now cycle at least once a month
• 35% of non-cyclists now cycle to work at least once a week
• 42% occasional cyclists now cycle regularly

Love to Ride's Cycle Challenges also proved effective in encouraging participants to cycle to work.

• 24% 'occasional' cycle commuters now commute by bike regularly (increased from 1-4 times a month to 2-5 days a week)
• 28% of driving commuters now drive to work at least two days fewer per week

An average of 8% of those who tend to drive to work said that three months after their Challenge, they cycled to work more than they commuted by car: in some locations this figure was as high as 17%.

Therefore, Love to Ride's Challenges were not only successful in getting people on to bicycles, they were effective in getting people out of cars.

We work with local authorities across the UK and create programmes to match every budget. To discuss how Love to Ride can work in your area, please call Sam on +44 (0)7734 833451, or drop an email to sam@lovetoride.net.