New research by cottages.com has revealed that the Isle of Wight is considered a top cycling destination, as the rise of ‘bikeations’ continues.
An independent survey has revealed that over a third of Brits (40%) are cyclists, with a fifth (20%) considering themselves to be infrequent, 1 in 10 (9%) as fair weather, and 1 in 20 either commuter (5%) or avid cyclists (5%).
The survey also reveals that Gen Z (18-28 years) and Millennials (29-43 years) are more likely to prefer cycling during a staycation than Gen X (44-58 years). Those living in Yorkshire and Humberside (18%) are more likely to go on a cycling staycation – or bikeation – compared to those living in the East of England (3%).
The Peak District, Scottish Highlands and Penzance in Cornwall are the top 3 destinations cyclists would go to for their ideal cycling break or staycation. Other popular options include London, the Lake District, Norfolk and the sunny Isle of Wight.
John Crosby, Chief Operating Officer, at Awaze – the parent company of cottages.com – says:
“Popularity for cycling breaks continues to be seen across both Northern and Southern hotspots, including the Isle of Wight. Specifically, Gen Z and Millennials are rapidly redefining holidays, edging away from traditional ‘stay and lay’ trips abroad and instead opting for activity staycations packed with adventure. It’s clear the trend for staycations continues with increasingly more Brits opting to ‘get away’ on two wheels.”
The full top 10 locations for a cycling staycation include:
- Peak District (12%)
- Scottish Highlands (11%)
- Penzance, Cornwall (11%)
- London (10%)
- Isle of Wight (9%)
- Morecombe Bay, Lake District (9%)
- Norfolk (9%)
- North Wales Coast (8%)
- Hampshire (8%)
- Bannau Bycheiniog (Cymraeg) (formerly known as the Brecon Beacons) (8%)
Maybe the council could put some money into new cycle paths or get some government funding.?
More cycle paths would be safer for these visiting cyclists and keep them from slowing the traffic while riding three abreast plus it would help island cyclists travel about and not use their car. Save money etc.?
Re government funding Tories cut the cycling infrastructure budget by 95% (sic!) this year so slim chance ;F
Brilliant !
Now that will mean we’ll get even more of the bl00dy nuisances over here, holding the traffic up.
Why is it that you spend half an hour in in a queue of cars, crawling at 10mph, trying to get past a bunch of them, & when you finally do, you get stopped at traffic lights, & the whole group of the b’stards come past you on the inside & you’re stuck behind them again….
> Why is that…
It’s mostly because cars are the most space-inefficient form of transport out there. Even in winter with close to no cyclists on the road, they still produce plenty of traffic jams.
No matter how much space you give cars, the space-inefficiency ends up quickly producing new traffic jams, and you end up with 26 lanes of stuck cars 😉
https://youtu.be/bQld7iJJSyk?si=_M2bnxwGdoN-QzLk
Meanwhile, have you ever seen any cyclist stuck in traffic on a cycle path even in places like Amsterdam?
(Other than one produced by traffic lights which are there because we have cars – wouldn’t be required in shared zones with bikes and pedestrians only.)
https://youtube.com/shorts/jgacSmLBSIQ?si=r8bZ2V5UyUEk1Sv6
Susan N – ask yourself, who are all the metalled, tarmacked roads built for? They certainly weren’t built for cycles. They were built for cars, vans, lorries buses etc to use.
‘have you ever seen any cyclist stuck in traffic on a cycle path’ No, but I’ve seen plenty of traffic queues caused by cyclists.
Just as an aside, if cyclists who, to be fair are pretty slow moving, pulled over occasionally to let the buses, cars etc get past them there wouldn’t be nearly so much frustration and ire directed at them. It only takes them to stop for a minute or so to let faster-moving traffic get past and a lot of the problems would be alleviated. But, have you ever seen a cyclist pull over to let traffic get past? I certainly haven’t.
I’m a professional driver and you’re one of those ignorant motorists I can’t abide.
naa,.. you got me there steve….
I’ve just spent half an hour re-reading what I wrote & I cannot for the life of me work out which part of not wanting to repeatedly get stuck behing the same group of cyclists, makes me ‘ignorant’
if you are, as you claim, a ‘profesional driver’ (what ever makes you think I’m not) I would have thought you had often suffered the same issue…
Please do enlighten me ?
Look at it this way… The benefits to society of cycling are huge (less pollution, healthier population, less strain on the NHS etc. etc.), but we need a better infrastructure for cyclists. Take your rage towards cyclists and aim it at the Council so more cycling lanes, tracks are built and maintained because surely that’s a win win.
That’s all very well, & I understand your sentiment,
However, it seems that with cyclists, even when cycle lanes/tracks are provided, they often choose not to use them (the one along the racecourse as a specific example)
So the only conclusion that can be drawn from that is that they DELIBERATELY choose to hold up the traffic!!
The highway code applies to cyclists as well as cars and other vehicles.
Rule 169 states “Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, …. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.”
This must therefore also apply to cyclists
So from that perspective, my ‘rage’ will remain aimed, rightly, at the cyclists!
If only they could respect other road users . But most are a bloody nightmare .. on the roads
What “respect” are you exactly looking for?
Cyclists should obviously follow the law like any other road user but that’s about it, right?
The young people are wrong! Cycling is bad. Cycling here is especially bad. Go cycle on the mainland.
Get the drawing pins ready !
What a load of rubbish, there are hardly any cycle lanes on the Island.
That is why cyclists cycle side by side holding each others hands causing
unnesseccary tail backs for motorists who pay to be on the Road.
Cyclists are an obstruction and should not be allowed on Island Roads in groups.
Bl**dy cyclists. I was standing with others at the pedestrian crossing over South Street outside Morrisons yesterday afternoon. the lights turned red for traffic coming up from Coppins Bridge and the traffic stopped. With that, a cyclist came up South Street passing the stopped cars, straight through the red trafic light and wove between all the traffic coming out of Church Litten and then turned right against a no entry sign. Fortunately no one hit him but if they had I would feel sorry for them as they would have to carry the can for hitting the idiot.
Oh yeah, I have seen some driver jump a red light there as well!
Fortunately no one hit him but if they had I would feel sorry for them as they would have to carry the can for hitting the idiot.
That is surprising but good news for the IOW.
Shame we did not get 10 million to improve or build new cycle routes instead of letting local councillors waste it on the hidious Ryde interchange
And the magic roundabout and the St George’s way ‘upgrade’
A common denominator here?
And don’t we know it
If only they knew just how well liked they are by the island residents.
We have many cycle lanes on the IOW, mostly unused
IDK, they are pretty busy from what I see.
It’s just that cycles don’t produce any traffic so it looks like it’s quiet all the time – but if you were to sit and count people in the summer on RTS that would go in 100s pd easily.
NO NO ISLAND SHOULD BAN THOSE VILE PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY RULE THE ROADS
Thank you.
Unfortunately they seem to leave their brains at home. Saw a really special one today, a bloke with two tiny children in a bike trailer on the busy Brading Down Road, long queue of traffic behind, children inches from overtaking cars and lorries, level with exhaust fumes. We have plenty of lovely country lanes, this was ludicrously stupid and dangerous.
I cannot drive to due poor eyesight but must somehow commute to businesses on roads that have no pavement, buses or cycling lanes – sometimes with children.
What do you want me to do? Get a £50 taxi every way? £2000 a month for just commute? Or walk on the road instead?
UK has poor infrastructure and is car-dependent, that’s what ludicrously stupid and dangerous: to force people into cars with no alternatives.
You can’t drive because of poor eyesight but you think it’s ok to put not just yours but your kids life at risk going out on a bike instead?! That really takes a particular kind of stupid.
And the award for the most stupid?
A couple of years back I was in a long queue going from Calborne Mill out towards Freshwater. When it came to the other side of the hill towards Tapnell Farm, the queue was for 4 individuals on bikes, one of which actually had a DOG on a lead!!!!!
I bet they didn’t have an idiot headcam on themselves?
Oh No, that will encourage more of em to come over. How about one new law aimed at cyclists for a change.
IF THERE IS A LONG LINE OF TRAFICK HELD UP BEHIND YOU, PULL OVER until it clears. Motorists will luv you for it.
The highway code for cyclists does NOT say: Ride on pavements, you can go the wrong way down a one way system, shout at people to “get out of the way”, stick up a middle finger when riding past, hold on to a car while waiting at traffic lights, undertake, ride on the wrong side of the road against oncoming traffic. Have you noticed how a lot of them don’t wear cameras anymore, the reason, because there is no need as it shows up how ignorant , arrogant and stupid they are.
Biggest pain in the ar@e are cyclists.
Rules do not apply to those lycra clad morons.
What an encouraging article. The Island’s lifeblood is tourism and cycling is an excellent way to explore the Island. There are many more riders these days coming over for a lovely weekend, not to mention the local cyclists who already know how great the place is 🙂
I wouldn’t mind but when they are screeching at each other as they ride 3 abreast it is the arrogance of these idiots. Oh we are so important attitude.
There’s actually plenty of cycleways on the Island, but cyclists choose not to use them for whatever reason.
An example is the Blackwater Valley Road. There’s a lovely, scenic, shared path that goes from Cowes all the way to Sandown and yet cyclists don’t seem to think to use it. Instead, they’ll cycle along a busy road with a queue of cars and buses behind them, all in 2nd gear doing 15mph. Surely, even for the cyclist, that can’t be fun – unless they get a certain pleasure from being able to hold everyone else up? I’ve never understood the mentality.
It would be safer and more pleasant for everyone if our Council, or whoever is in charge of tourism these days, encouraged cyclists to use the paths provided for them.