Last week was national cycling week. It was pointed out by one of our new tenants to be who was very happy that the apartment they will be renting has bike storage. It’s a key reason why they have chosen the apartment they have.
As the cost of living rises, cycling has become more popular. For many years it has been for fun and leisure and also exercise, however in recent times, more people are choosing to commute by bike, especially now the weather is so nice.
Lancaster has lots of cyclists. Over 1000 students and 500 university staff commute to the university by bike. Visit Lancaster has a whole section on their website dedicated to cyclists which highlights various cycle routes. But did you know back in 2020, Lancaster was named as the most bike-friendly city in the UK!
Across the UK there are over 12,500 miles of national cycle routes in the UK. On average in England and Wales, there are just over 2,200 households per mile of national cycle route. Break it down and per home, there is over 1 metre of cycle route in the South West and Scotland, compared to just 7cm in London. In the northwest, we get 71 cms per home!
Here are some more facts…
- Nearly half of the population in England aged 5+ own a pedal bike, with ownership rates highest for those aged 5–10, 11–16 and 40–49.
- 4.5 million miles are cycled each year
- Cycling accounts for around 1% of all traffic mileage on Britain’s roads
But did you know this? And this is important for any prospective landlords to know, especially those with an interest in the HMO market. More than one in ten renters who live with friends or in a house share would be prepared to pay extra for secure bike storage!
At JDG we love property data. It helps us to know what buyers and tenants are looking for. It guides us in how we advise you. If we can help you with anything property related, please get in touch. At JDG we are here to help. (We also know a few good bike shops too!)
My name is Michelle Gallagher. You can email me at michelle@jdg.co.uk or call me on 01524 843322
Thanks for reading
Michelle
