IN BRIEF
In Northern Ireland, 69% of people questioned in the official walking and cycling survey fall into the “No way, no how” group, and 17% say they are interested but concerned. For a short journey of up to 3 miles, 18% say they would be likely to cycle. Among those dissatisfied with cycling conditions, 79% cite the lack of cycle lanes.
Cycling in Northern Ireland, a mode of transport many reject
The report “Walking and Cycling in Northern Ireland 2025/26”, published on 5 November by Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure, groups respondents according to their attitude to cycling. The largest group is the reluctant one: 69% fall into the “No way, no how” category. Next come 17% who are “interested, but concerned”.
For short journeys of up to 3 miles, 18% of respondents say they would be likely to cycle. The report states that fewer than a third of respondents (31%) have access to a bike, and that 30% of those had ridden in the previous 4 weeks. The survey also finds that men are twice as likely as women to say they would be likely to make short journeys by bike (24% versus 12%).
Lack of cycle lanes tops the list of complaints
Walking fares better: 62% of respondents say they are satisfied with pedestrian provision near their home. For cycling, the report states that just over half of respondents (51%) say they are satisfied with cycling conditions near their home. And among those who are not, more than three quarters, 79%, point to the lack of cycle lanes.
A year-long survey of 3,459 households
The figures come from the Continuous Household Survey, run by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Fieldwork ran from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, on a sample of 8,940 randomly selected addresses; 3,459 households took part.
