In the early decades of the twentieth century, cyclists were pretty much the norm. For most people, getting around was either by train, by foot or by bicycle. Fast forward to the fifties and suddenly, the technologies of WW2, combined with aggressive marketing techniques, saw cars becoming more accessible, more practical and more desirable. But even then, cars were less common and too expensive for the majority of the populace. 80% of households didn’t own a car in 1950 and it was not until 1970 when just under 40% of households became car owners. On the road and in the space of a few short decades, cars had replaced bicycles as the premier mode of transportation. Roads were coated in tarmac and motorways sliced through the countryside in order to facilitate car ownership. Cyclists were pushed to the extreme edges – both literally and metaphorically.

All this car ownership of course, had a knock-on effect on both environmental and human health. As those effects started becoming painfully clear, a new generation of cyclists has begun to emerge – forgoing their cars in favour of bikes, for the sake of their health and the health of the planet. The increase in cyclists does not appear to be making a major dent in car ownership or pollution levels thus far, but the zeitgeist is still gathering momentum. The critical mass of cyclists is forcing bicycle-friendly changes in road planning and policy – which will in turn encourage those who are currently wary of road-riding to come forward and mount their bicycles.