Is Cycling Cheaper than Driving in the UK?

Is cycling cheaper than driving in the UK – or have we just accepted the car as an unquestioned default? Fuel, insurance, servicing, depreciation, parking. The costs of driving don’t arrive all at once – they drip quietly from your bank account month after month.

Most people never calculate the true cost per mile. They just assume it’s the price of modern life. But for short journeys – the 2–5 mile trips to the gym, the supermarket, the office – is that really true?

In many UK towns, cycling is barely slower than driving once you factor in traffic and parking. Often, it’s the same time. Sometimes faster. And while a car burns fuel and loses value with every mile, a bicycle costs pennies to run and improves your cardiovascular fitness at the same time.

We talk endlessly about fuel efficiency. But what about life efficiency? What if your daily commute could strengthen your heart, reduce your expenses, and lower your environmental footprint – all without adding extra hours to your week?

This isn’t about giving up your car entirely. It’s about questioning whether you’re overusing it. When you actually run the numbers, cycling doesn’t just look healthier. It looks financially rational. So, is cycling cheaper than driving in the UK? Let’s break it down.

My personal experience cycling in the UK

I live on the edge of a medium-sized town, and my work is located on the other side – it’s a bit too far away, and work starts too early, for me to cycle there (although I’d very much like to). My gym is located near the town centre, so I have strong motivation to cycle there – when I do this, I feel a deep sense of achievement because nothing feels better than a hard-earned win.

It takes me only 5 minutes more to cycle the 3.6 miles to the gym than to drive (assuming there is no traffic). And if there is traffic, it takes about the same time! That’s the power of cycling through an urban area – congestion often works to the cyclist’s advantage. Plus, I’ve already done a warm-up so I can hit the gym hard. Win-win.

How cycling improves fitness and health

Cycling is a fantastic workout that uses pretty much every muscle from your glutes (bum muscles) downward. You also engage your core muscles to stay balanced, and shoulder and arm muscles for steering and balancing. Cycling is a great lower body workout, especially if you cycle at a good pace and/or have a hilly journey. You essentially get a free workout while travelling to the places you need to go.

Cycling has been shown to decrease the risk of all-cause mortality by 24% with just 38 minutes of daily cycling, and is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, along with improved mental health. These improvements are much the same as for any other exercise, but what makes cycling so powerful is that it’s easier to integrate into your daily routine (commuting to work, for example), without considering it as “intentional exercise”. So, you can get fit quietly without having to actively think about going to the gym. This is a great way to improve your lifespan and healthspan.

Why cycling is more energy efficient than driving

We often talk about fuel efficiency when driving, but how about overall energy efficiency? The motor car is incredibly wasteful with energy. It turns out that around 80% of the energy supplied to the engine from fuel is wasted as heat and noise (rather than used to turn the wheels). Cycling is actually the most efficient method of personal transportation in terms of energy usage (even more efficient than walking). For example, for a four-mile round-trip, we can estimate typical energy usage (in kcal) between different modes of transportation:

Table composed using ChatGPT.

Cycling uses around 18 times less energy than a petrol car, and around 6 times less energy than an electric car. So, if you want to save the planet and consume fewer resources, for short journeys at least, cycling is the solution.

How cycling saves you money compared to driving

It won’t surprise you to hear that cycling is a lot cheaper than driving, and there are no carbon emissions involved, and cycling has a positive impact on your health. For short, within-town journeys, and for a moderately fit person, cycling is unlikely to be much slower than driving. As we’ve already discussed, traffic impedes car journeys a lot, plus bikes can take short cuts which cars cannot.

Table composed using ChatGPT.

When considering the real cost of driving in the UK, there are many hidden costs that are easy to forget. Car ownership incurs costs in: depreciation, fuel/ electricity, insurance, maintenance + repairs, road tax, tyres, interest on finance (if you’ve taken this out) and the cost of a home charger (EV’s only). Similarly, bicycle ownership also incurs costs (although much smaller) through: depreciation, maintenance, accessories, insurance/ secure parking, electricity (e-bike only).

The table shows that cycling is around an order of magnitude (10x) less expensive than driving. I’m sure that most people still can’t entirely get rid of their car – which is needed for long journeys and when the weather is poor (and if you need to transport a lot of stuff). But even so, simply driving less and cycling more will still save you a lot of money, leaving you with more money to invest.

Is cycling really cheaper than driving in the UK?

Yes. Cycling using an inexpensive bike will cost you somewhere between 3-8p per mile, whereas even a used petrol car will cost you 38-59p per mile to run. Driving a used electric car has a similar per-mile cost to a used petrol car. Cycling is around 10 times cheaper than driving.

How much can you save by cycling instead of driving?

Assuming a 5-mile daily commute x 5 days per week x 52 weeks per year, cycling to work using a cheap bike would cost somewhere between £78 – £208 per year. Meanwhile, a used petrol car would cost you £988 – £1,534 per year. So, cycling will save you somewhere between £900 – £1300 per year in this case. Remember, these are ballpark figures just for the cost of the daily commute, not for overall ownership.

Is cycling worth it for short UK journeys?

Cycling for short journeys might require some extra effort from you, but the time taken is actually similar to driving a lot of the time. When you consider that, in 2023, the average speed on urban A roads in the UK was 16.3 mph (and presumably less on minor roads), cycling does not seem like such a bad idea. A regular cyclist should easily be able to hit an average of 10mph, and for someone with high fitness, 15+ mph average speeds are easily achievable. So, in many UK towns, short journeys of 2-5 miles are often at least as fast (sometimes quicker if utilising cycle lanes and shortcuts that only bikes can take) by bike as by car during peak times.

Cycling in the UK is vastly cheaper than driving and involves actual physical work by you (turning the pedals and balancing the bike), so strengthens your leg muscles while improving cardiovascular fitness and balance.

Cycling more helps to reduce congestion

Guess what – more people cycling means fewer cars on the road. And that means more road for everyone else, and so faster journeys, less congestion and fewer accidents. So it’s safer for everyone… or is it? Of course, this all assumes cyclists stay off the roads and keep to cycle paths. In some countries – like the Netherlands, which has fantastic cycling infrastructure, this works fine. But in the US, where the motor car is king and cycling infrastructure is poor, there is often no choice but to cycle on the roads. And more cyclists on the road is clearly more dangerous for everyone. So, investment needs to be made in some countries to make it easier for people to use their bikes.

Cycling helps to reduce air pollution

Cars are extremely inefficient, 1-2 tonne steel monsters which often only ferry the driver to their destination, while cushioning them in leather seats and blowing perfectly air-conditioned air onto them. Given how much energy is needed per mile to drive these things around (see table above), it’s not surprising that if more people cycle, there’ll be fewer cars belching out fumes – which improves air quality for everyone. Fewer minerals will be dug out of the ground, and fewer greenhouse gases will be emitted. A win-win for everyone.

Summary: why cycling is better than driving

Many people would benefit from a healthier lifestyle which involves more cycling – using your muscles and lungs, and properly sweating – and less sitting on your ass in a warm car whilst listening to music and sipping sugary coffee. Of course, not every journey can be substituted with a bicycle – and I’m not sure the bicycle can completely replace the car for a lot of journeys – unless you live in a large city with good public transport and don’t often need to drive outside of said city.

Bicycles are surprisingly versatile, and if you are a fit person, you’ll be able to quite easily cycle 10 miles or more in a single journey. The weekly shop? No problem – you can just buy a bicycle trailer to put all your bags in and you’re good! You could even upgrade to a fancy e-bike to get more range and faster commute times. Raining? Just get a good waterproof jacket (and trousers) and toughen up! If it’s cold as well, you could just buy thermal underwear, balaclavas and gloves. Look, I’m not saying everyone will want to cycle in these conditions, but it’s still an option.

Of course, there’s no need to spend a lot of money to get a good bike – shop second hand and you can get good quality hardware for as little as £100/ $150 if you look hard enough.

Overall, cycling is an underrated mode of transport if you live in or near a town. You should at least consider it to supplement your car. You may soon find yourself becoming a fitter, healthier person and saving good money.

Q+A

Is cycling really cheaper than driving in the UK?

Yes, in most cases cycling is significantly cheaper than driving in the UK. While there may be an upfront cost for a bike, ongoing expenses are minimal compared to fuel, insurance, road tax, parking, and maintenance for a car. Over time, cycling can save thousands of pounds per year for regular commuters.

What are the main costs of cycling?

The main costs of cycling include the initial purchase of a bike, basic maintenance, and occasional replacements like tyres, chains, and brake pads. You may also spend money on accessories such as lights, locks, and clothing. However, these costs are relatively low and predictable compared to the ongoing expenses of owning a car.

How much can I save by cycling instead of driving?

The amount you save depends on how often you cycle and your current driving costs. Replacing even a short daily commute with cycling can save hundreds to thousands of pounds annually. When you factor in fuel, parking, and wear-and-tear on your car, the long-term financial savings can be substantial.

Is cycling practical for everyday use in the UK?

Cycling is increasingly practical in many parts of the UK, especially in cities with improving cycling infrastructure. While weather and distance can be challenges, many people find cycling perfectly suitable for commuting, errands, and short trips. Electric bikes have also made longer distances and hills much more manageable.

What are the health benefits of cycling?

Cycling improves physical fitness, mental wellbeing, and overall health, potentially reducing healthcare costs over time. It can also save time in congested areas and reduce your environmental impact. These additional benefits make cycling not just a cheaper option, but a more rewarding and sustainable way to travel.

Have you ditched your car in favour of a bike? Or are you now considering cycling instead of driving more often? Let me know in the comments below: