COUNCILLORS in Warrington say they are ‘committed to encouraging cycling’ – despite fewer residents riding their bike at least once a week last year than in 2022.

New data from the Active Lives Survey from Sport England, compiled by the Department for Transport, show 7.9 per cent of Warrington residents were cycling at least once a week in the year to November 2023 – down from 12 per cent the year before.

In 2019, before the pandemic, 12.8 per cent said they were cycling at least once a week in the area.

Across the country, 10.1 per cent of people reported cycling weekly, up from 9.3 per cent the previous year, but still below pre-pandemic levels, when 11.2 per cent did so.

Warrington Borough Council says the survey shows that Warrington continues to experience higher levels of participation in cycling compared to the north west overall.

It pointed out that 13.9 per cent of respondents in Warrington said that they cycled at least twice in the last 28 days, compared 13.6 per cent on average in the region overall.

Moreover, it said that its Local Transport Plan annual monitoring data indicated that cycling levels continue to increase since monitoring started in 2004.

The most recent figures from June this year indicate that levels of cycling are around 70 per cent higher than 20 years ago, a spokesman commented.

Since opening in June, Warrington Cycle Hub has connected with almost 800 customers directly and 75,000 customers online, while more than 2,000 children were trained by Bikeability ast year.

In a statement, the council said: “As part of our sustainable transport programme, we are committed to encouraging cycling and other forms of sustainable transport.

“Over the last five years, we have been successful in attracting significant new funding to deliver many walking and cycling projects.

“There are now new cycle routes in Great Sankey and between Omega and Burtonwood, as well as an innovative ‘cyclops’ junction in Bewsey.

“Local parks and greenspaces have also seen significant investment, including the Trans Pennine Trail, Sankey Valley, Woolston Park and Victoria Park.

“Further active travel improvements are planned, including a 1.5km route alongside the A49 Winwick Road, and a package of schemes as part of the Warrington Town Deal funding including Bewsey Road, Sankey Street and Wilderspool Causeway.

“We are also delivering a range of projects to support this infrastructure plan, including free Dr Bike maintenance checks, the new Warrington Cycle Hub, guided bike rides and supporting the next generation of cyclists through engagement with local schools and Bikeability training.

“As a result of this work, we have seen cycling levels continue to increase since 2004, with continued high levels of participation in cycling compared to the north west average.”

The survey also revealed a national gap in cycling habits between the least and most deprived, as while 11.1 per cent of those better off cycled weekly, only 8.7 per cent of those in the most deprived areas did.

Fewer people cycled for leisure last year than they did before the pandemic, but more people walked regularly.

Last year, 54.8 per cent reported taking a continuous 10-minute walk for leisure at least once a week, up from 50.9 per cent in 2019. This figure stood at 59.9 per cent in Warrington.