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The 2011 Southampton Cycle Challenge was part of the Department of Health South East’s Finding New Solutions initiative and ran from 9 to 29 May 2011. The Challenge encouraged 1,439 people from 68 organisations to take part, logging 86,977 miles via 11,166 trips.

"The Southampton Cycle Challenge has raised the profile of cycling within our workplace and given staff ‘permission’ to challenge others who don’t cycle. The results are far better than expected, the second year Challenge provided new cyclists with an added prompt to try cycling to work. The Challenge for Change website is very user-friendly and serves to inspire new or returner cyclists, the stats are also a great way to reflect the wider benefits of cycling. The Cycle Challenge shows that you don’t have to wear lycra to be an active traveller!"
– Wendy Hislop (Health Improvement Manager, Solent NHS Trust)

Stats to date

  • People 2,543 PEOPLE
  • Organisation 101 ORGANISATIONS
  • Distance 238,888 MILES
  • Non-cyclists 232 NEW CYCLISTS
  • Trips 27,769 TRIPS
  • CO2 48,073 KG CO2

Participant breakdown

46% of Challenge participants were non- or occasional cyclists

2011 Southampton segmentation


Three months after the Challenge:

  • 45% of non-cyclists reported cycling at least once a week

  • 51% of occasional cyclists reported cycling at least two days a week

  • 36% of non-cyclists reported cycling to work at least once a week

  • 16% of participants who reported travelling to work by car at baseline had switched to cycling to work as their main mode of transport

Participant feedback

I am now going to try to cycle either in or from work once a week (it is 22 miles so a bit of a trek!). I felt a huge sense of achievement and it helps with the petrol cost.
– Tiffany W. (Non-Cyclist, Ordnance Survey)
I enjoyed the Challenge and the information collected on how many miles travelled, calories lost and what other people were doing was all very interesting. I went to see the bike doctor who was very helpful on maintaining my bike which I thought was a great idea.
– Sarah P. (Non-Cyclist, Carnival UK Plc)
I have recently discovered it is possible to cycle the 11 miles to work and not collapse in a heap at the end!
– Louise B. (Regular Cyclist, University of Southampton)