Cycling confidence and skills

A new report from The Bikeability Trust has identified a ‘lost generation’ of adults who lack the confidence and skills needed to cycle on today’s roads, despite growing interest in cycling as a low-cost, healthy and sustainable mode of transport.

Re-engaging a Lost Generation: The Role of Confidence and Training in Adult Cycling Participation reveals that many adults missed out on formal cycle training during childhood, leaving them less likely to cycle and less confident navigating real-world traffic conditions.

The research also identifies confidence as a significant barrier to cycling, particularly among women. Women were substantially less likely than men to report feeling confident cycling in traffic, navigating junctions and responding to unexpected situations on the road. The report argues that this confidence gap, rather than ability alone, is a key factor behind the persistent disparity in cycling participation between men and women.