Sheffield named as one of the UK’s top 10 cities to cycle in new survey
Sheffield is set to be a part of an historic summer of cycling next summer
Sheffield has been named in the top 10 cities for cycling in the UK and is ranked ahead of places like Doncaster, Leeds, Liverpool and Edinburgh among others.
The Steel City has long prided itself on being a place where people can get out and exercise. Statistically speaking, it’s not only the greenest city in the UK but also the second greenest throughout the entirety of Europe behind Oslo.
Sheffield also has challenging hill climbs and direct access to the Peak District, making it a great place for commuting, mountain biking, or road cycling.
It’ is a city which has a thriving and active riding community and continuous infrastructure improvements through the Connecting Sheffield scheme as well as having its own Grand Prix as part of the British Cycling National Circuit Race Series.
Sheffield is also synonymous with the Tour De France having featured on the 2014 edition as riders took in areas like Bradfield, Attercliffe and Jenkin Road while also witnessing some breathtaking views along the way.
The city will also be a forefront of cycling next summer as it features on part of the route for the Tour de Femmes - the female equivalent of the Tour de France - something which is described by organisers as having the potential to be the most attended female sporting event the UK has ever seen.
Based on the data, commissioned by Halfords, which is based on surveys from 2,000 riders, Sheffield makes the list due to its scores in a number of categories which include good cycle lanes, road signage, places to park and how courteous drivers on the road are to them.
Pippa Wibberley, director of cycling for the brand, said: “Cycling is great for the environment – and your legs - and with plenty of traffic on the roads, it can sometimes be quicker than getting in a car.
“But it seems some cities are better suited to bikes being on the road than others – it is clear the key is good cycle lanes and courteous drivers.
“It can be easy to miss a cyclist when pulling out at junctions, so as a driver you should be checking more than once to make sure the coast is clear.”
Overall, Sheffield ranks ninth in the list of UK cities which are best to cycle. Placing it narrowly above Glasgow but slightly below places like Birmingham, Bristol and Newcastle, with Southampton ultimately taking top spot.
Here’s the top cities to cycle in the UK based on the study.
1. Southampton
2. Newcastle
3. Cambridge
4. Brighton and Hove
5. London
6. Manchester
7. Bristol
8. Birmingham
9. Sheffield
10. Glasgow