Almost two months after the start of the war in Iran, rising fuel costs are prompting a shift in how people travel in the UK.
New research from YouGov, commissioned by national cycling charity Cycling UK, found that more drivers are turning to walking and cycling for everyday journeys.
The survey found that 28% of UK drivers are now walking or cycling more instead of using their cars. Based on responses from more than 2,000 adults, the findings highlight how global instability is quickly translating into changes in household travel behaviour.
“People need to travel and they need to be able to do this affordably,” Sarah Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cycling UK, said. “That includes alternatives to driving, particularly for those who simply won’t be able to keep up with rising costs.”
A further 15% of drivers said they are considering making the same shift, suggesting that cost pressures may continue to push more people away from car use. The move towards active travel outpaced other responses to rising fuel prices, including using public transport instead of driving (23%), going out less (27%) or cutting back spending elsewhere to afford petrol (19%).
The trend reflects similar behaviour in the US, where rising fuel prices have already accelerated a shift towards shared micromobility. Previous Zag Daily reporting found that higher gas prices led a majority of riders surveyed by shared operator Veo, who have access to a car, to replace trips with shared bikes and scooters, with cost cited as a key factor in that decision.
Cycling UK’s findings point to a broader rebalancing of transport choices as households respond to higher costs. Nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) said they are using buses and trains more to replace car journeys, while 13% are considering doing so.
At the same time, 27% of drivers reported reducing how often they go out to save money on fuel, underlining the wider social impact of rising transport costs. Cycling UK warned that without greater access to alternatives, higher costs risk increasing isolation and limiting access to everyday activities.
The difference across gender
Gender differences were also evident. Women were more likely than men to cut back on going out and more likely to say rising costs had prevented them from visiting family or taking part in leisure activities.
Men were almost twice as likely to have bought a bicycle in response to higher fuel prices, reflecting ongoing barriers to cycling uptake among women.
“With so many people turning to cycling and walking instead of driving, we urgently need a package of measures to make cycling feel like a safe and viable option for local journeys,” Mitchell said.
Cycling UK is calling for government support to expand access to cycling and walking, including safer roads, financial support for bikes and e-bikes and tax incentives.