More bikes than cars in Glasgow rush hour as cycling in Scotland grows
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
More people cycled than drove during a rush hour morning in Glasgow, according to new traffic data from Cycling Scotland.
The all-mode traffic surveys found that between 8–9am on Thursday 5 June, bikes outnumbered cars on the South City Way cycle route along Victoria Road; the first time this has ever been recorded at the site.
Cycling Scotland said the figures highlight the growing impact of new cycling infrastructure across Scottish cities.
In Glasgow, over 1,000 bike journeys a day were recorded on the newly completed Byres Road lanes linking Dumbarton Road to University Avenue, while Clyde Street saw an average of 1,655 daily cycle journeys, connecting key protected routes along the River Clyde, South City Way and East City Way.
In Edinburgh, cycling on West Coates more than doubled in a year, rising from an average of 725 daily bike journeys in May 2024 to 1,375 in May 2025, indicating a 90% increase, with bikes making up 8.2% of all journeys at this location, highlighting the growing role of cycling in city transport.
Stirling’s new protected cycle network also saw strong use, with daily averages of 403 on Goosecroft Road near the rail station and 415 on Causewayhead Road linking the city centre to the University of Stirling. In Perth, cycling activity reached its highest levels since the pandemic, with Dunkeld Road and Ruthvenfield Road leading in daily counts.
Aberdeen’s King Street recorded an average of 450 daily bike journeys, underlining steady uptake across the country.
Cycling Scotland’s biannual traffic surveys cover more than 100 sites across all 32 local authorities, capturing data over 48 hours in May and September.
The organisation said the results show substantial, continued growth in everyday cycling across Scotland as new routes and safer infrastructure make active travel more accessible.