Just how long will it take to travel across the UK’s busiest cities using a bicycle as opposed to getting behind the wheel or using public transport? Family-run cycling store Leisure Lakes Bikes aims to find out…
London
Population: 7,074,265*
Route: From Royal London Hospital to King’s Cross Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows^:
It would take 33 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via the A501).
It would take 29 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (the Hammersmith & City underground from Whitechapel).
It would take 1 hour and 21 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A501).
It would take 27 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via the A5201).
Fastest form of transport: Cycling
Birmingham
Population: 1,020,589*
Route: From Cadbury World to Birmingham New Street Station (Hotel and Spa Birmingham)
Here, a typical journey will be as follows.
It would take 17 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via Pershore Rd/A441).
It would take 26 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (the London Midland line from Bournville).
It would take 1 hour and 26 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via Bristol Rd/A38).
It would take 23 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via Pershore Rd/A441 and Bristol Rd/A38).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Leeds
Population: 726,939*
Route: From Kirkstall Abbey to Leeds Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows.
It would take 18 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via Burley Rd).
It would take 28 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (the Northern line from Headingley).
It would take 1 hour and 3 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A65).
It would take 20 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via the A65).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Glasgow
Population: 616,430*
Route: From Hampden Park to Glasgow Central Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows.
It would take 22 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via Cathcart Rd).
It would take 16 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via the ScotRail line from Mount Florida).
It would take 52 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via Eglinton St/A77).
It would take 16 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via Aikenhead Rd/A728).
Fastest form of transport: Joint first place between public transport and cycling
Sheffield
Population: 530,375*
Route: From Meadowhall Centre to Sheffield Train Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows^:
It would take 14 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via Brightside Ln/A6109).
It would take 24 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via the Northern Yellow Line Transpennine Express from Meadowhall South – Tinsley).
It would take 1 hour 14 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A6109).
It would take 22 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via the A6109).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Bradford
Population: 483,422*
Route: From Shipley town centre to Bradford Interchange
Here, a typical journey will be as follows.
It would take 16 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via the A6037).
It would take 13 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via either the 622, 623, 626, 653 or 737 from Shipley Market Square).
It would take 1 hour 18 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A6037).
It would take 26 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via the A6037).
Fastest form of transport: Public transport
Liverpool
Population: 467,995*
Route: From Aintree Racecourse to Liverpool Lime Street Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows^:
It would take 21 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via Bridle Rd and the A5038).
It would take 27 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via the Merseyrail line from Aintree).
It would take 1 hour 44 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A59).
It would take 29 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via the A59).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Edinburgh
Population: 448,850*
Route: From Fort Kinnaird to Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows^:
It would take 20 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via the A1).
It would take 27 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via the 253 line from Milton Link).
It would take 1 hour and 25 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A6095).
It would take 27 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via the National Cycle Route 1).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Manchester
Population: 430,818*
Route: From Old Trafford football stadium to Manchester Piccadilly Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows^:
It would take 13 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via the A56).
It would take 24 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via the X50 line from Sir Alex Ferguson Way).
It would take 1 hour and 2 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the B6469).
It would take 22 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via the A56 and B6469).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Bristol
Population: 399,633
Route: From Woodspring Golf (one of bristol hotels) & Country Club to Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows^:
It would take 18 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via the A38).
It would take 23 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via the 672 from Towns Talk (NE-bound).
It would take 1 hour 18 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A38).
It would take 22 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via the A38).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Cardiff
Population: 315,040*
Route: From Radyr Golf Club to Cardiff Central Railway Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows^:
It would take 20 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via Llantrisant Rd/A4119 and the A4119).
It would take 27 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via the Arriva Trains Wales route from Radyr).
It would take 1 hour 37 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A4119).
It would take 28 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via National Cycle Route 8).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Belfast
Population: 297,300*
Route: From Balmoral Golf Club to Belfast Central Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows^:
It would take 15 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via the A12).
It would take 25 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via the Nir line from Balmoral Train Station).
It would take 1 hour and 3 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A1).
It would take 18 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via the A1 and National Cycle Route 9).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Population: 282,338*
Route: From intu Metrocentre to Newcastle Central Station
Here, a typical journey will be as follows^:
It would take 14 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when driving (via the A1).
It would take 21 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by public transport (via the Northern ScotRail line from the Metrocentre).
It would take 1 hour 15 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route by walking (via the A1114).
It would take 29 minutes to complete the journey by taking the quickest route when cycling (via National Cycle Route 14).
Fastest form of transport: Driving
Do you feel inspired to leave your car at home and skip public transport in favour of completing your commute on a bike? Leisure Lakes Bikes has teamed up with the Green Commute Initiative in order to make the change not only an easy one but a lot less stressful on the purse strings. Click here to find out more about the partnership.
*Population figures taken from: http://www.citymayors.com/gratis/uk_topcities.html
^Journey times taken from figures recorded by Google Maps between 08.30 and 10.30 GMT on 23/12/2016
