Cycles of all sorts

Many different factors combine to influence levels of utility cycling.

In developing economies, a large amount of utility cycling may be seen simply because the bicycle is the most affordable form of transport by vehicle available to many people.

In richer countries, where people can have the choice of a mixture of transport types, a complex interplay of other factors influences the level of bicycle use. In developed countries cycling has to compete with, and work with, alternative transport modes: walking, public transport of various sorts and the usually dominant private car use. Thus cycling levels are not influenced just by the attractiveness of cycling alone, but also by what makes the competing modes more or less attractive.

In developed countries with high utility cycling levels, utility cyclists tend to undertake relatively short journeys. According to Irish 1996 Census data, over 55% of cycling workers travelled 3 miles (4.8 km) or less, 27% 5 miles (8 km) or less and only 17% travelled more than 5 miles in their daily commute. It can be argued that factors that directly influence trip length or journey time are among the most important in making cycling a competitive transport mode.

Car ownership rates can also be influential. In New York City, more than half of all households do not own a car (the figure is even higher in Manhattan, over 75%), and walk/bicycle modes of travel account for 21% of all modes for trips in the city.

Decisions taken by various levels of government, as well as local groups, residents' organisations and public- and private-sector employers, can all have an impact on so the called "modal choice" or "modal split" in daily transport. In some cases various factors may be manipulated in a manner that deliberately seeks to encourage or discourage various transport modes, including cycling.

Factors affecting cycling levels may include:

• Town planning, including quality of infrastructure: cyclist "friendly" vs. cyclist "hostile"
• Trip-end facilities, particularly secure parking, providing measures against theft
• Retail policy
• Marketing; the public image of cycling
• Integration with other transport modes
• Cycle training
• Terrain (hilly vs. flat)