Research commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) shows that 60% of people believe UK roads are too dangerous to cycle on.

Half say they would cycle, or would do so more often, if there were greater provision of cycle paths.

These are some of the key findings contained in an interim report conducted on behalf of the DfT.

Whilst not cycling specific, the report dies include detailed consumer attitudes towards a range of transport options. The survey was based on almost 4,000 face-to-face interviews conducted between November 2009 and June 2010, making it one of the most in-depth studies of its type.

It's reported that while approximately half of the interviewees owned or had regular use of a bicycle, only a quarter of those cycled once or more a week. Furthermore, it established that 40% of bicycle owners lived within five miles of their place of work, yet only 5% of those cycled daily.

The survey found that the vast majority of respondents with access to a bicycle had either not considered cycling to work or had already rejected it as an option. 63% went on to explain that they found cycling on roads stressful, and 55% simply said that they were unwilling to cycle on roads.

Unfortunately, these figures appear to reinforce the wider belief in many communities that our roads are dangerous.

The difficulty here is in educating those with bicycles who live within five miles of their place of work that cycling is not only a green and healthy thing to do, but it's safe, too.

Dave Escandell, cycle safety campaign leader at Access Legal from Shoosmiths, said:
''The latest road traffic accident figures showed that cycling deaths fell in 2009, but injuries increased."

"It's possible that the general public was aware of these numbers, but they do need to be looked at in the wider context. The last census in the UK suggested that 650,000 people cycled regularly. The next census is due next year, and it's anticipated that this figure will rise dramatically, and probably twofold.''

It's important to increase the public's confidence in getting onto their bicycles and break down the perceived barriers preventing them from doing so. Our roads are generally safe, although there's obviously scope for improvement.

Part of what makes our roads appear dangerous is the sheer number of motor vehicles in urban areas. It has to be said, that as a nation we do not make the most of the bicycle, and because of this motorists aren't used to sharing the roads with cyclists. Many have argued that there's safety in numbers and that motorists' perception of cyclists will change the more they become used to seeing them on our roads.

Local authorities also need to do more to improve the cycling experience. Our cycle infrastructure is nowhere near that of some of our European neighbours and the facilities we do have can be poorly planned and maintained. The cycle lane, for example is often considered to be a place of danger, rather than a haven: http://www.access-legal.co.uk/legal-news/cycle-lanes-a-place-of-danger-lu-2485.htm

Government budgetary cuts this year are likely to hit cycling hard, too. Cycling England, the quasi-governmental body which promotes the use of bicycles through cycling safety, health and transportation, has been abolished.

The spending review has seen the DfT asked to make £13bn of cuts, 21% of its budget, over four years. In addition, many local authorities are being asked to make savings of up to 28%. It therefore looks certain that funding for cycling infrastructure projects will be looked at.

Much of the 'cycling is a safe activity, even on our roads' message may therefore need to come from cyclists themselves.

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