London’s bike sharing program sees record usage in the wake of industrial action

Commuters are seeking new modes of travel – 29% will turn to cycling and walking to save money and avoid strikes

Oliver Montague and Dmitro Khroma, co-founders of Swytch Technology, are available to comment on how repeated strikes and ‘the cost of commuting crisis’ are changing the way we travel to work

New research by Transport of London has revealed the capital’s bike sharing program saw a record 11.5 million rentals in 2022, a million more than pre-pandemic levels. The report showed bike usage spiked on days when Underground and train services weren’t running as a result of ongoing strikes. In the wake of the national rail announcing further strikes commencing on Wednesday (1st of February) and Friday (3rd of February), engineers of the UK’s leading e-bike conversion kit Swytch Technology explain why independent travel for next year will be the most technologically advanced we’ve seen, and less reliant on public infrastructure.

Electric vehicles are quickly on the rise with revenue in the e-scooter sector projected to reach £43.53m in 2022. However, at the forefront of this e-revolution is the e-bike which has seen impressive market growth. In the UK, sales are worth £280 million and are expected to triple over the next three years – according to the latest annual figures by Mintel. 

Cycling levels have already seen a 40% increase in the capital, a record high since pre-pandemic levels – according to an annual TfL report. In the wake of this cycling boom, bike conversion specialists Swytch Technology predict individual commuting is set to be the new trend in 2023. This was further highlighted in their new nationally representative study which revealed that 29% of Brits will be turning to cycling and walking in the New Year to save money on travelling or commuting, a burgeoning cost that represent roughly 20% of the average person’s salary. For this reason, Swytch is seeking to help Brits with their daily journeys by dramatically reducing the price of quality eBikes to under £500, enabling anyone to travel electric for as little as £0.004 (0.4 pence) per mile.

This new shift towards sustainable methods of commuting is not only being driven by financial motivations, but Swytch’s data also revealed that the UK’s city dwellers are also environmentally conscious when it comes to getting to work. A staggering 27% of Brits say they will change to an electric powered mode of transport in the next few years, because fossil fuels damage the environment. Up-cycling an existing bike with a conversion kit as opposed to purchasing a new one presents as the greenest way of commuting electric – saving a staggering 200kg of CO2e.

Oliver Montague, CEO and co-founder of Swytch Technology comments:

“As workers are starting to return to the office more regularly – our data has revealed an interesting shift in people’s commuting habits. Factors such as rail strikes, cost-of-living concerns and a general increased awareness about sustainability, have meant that methods of ‘active commuting’ such as cycling are enjoying a bit of a renaissance. Whilst Britain still lags slightly behind other European countries in terms of cycling participation, our research suggests this looks set to change.

“It’s important to realise that cycling is not only reserved for the fit and active few that live close to their offices – with e-bikes making cycling a less strenuous activity, riding to work can become a breezy and enjoyable part of your day and accessible to all. Not only is this a cost-effective way to travel, but also the physical and mental health benefits of transitioning to an active commute are enormous.”

About Swytch 

Swytch was founded by engineers Oliver Montague and Dmitro Khroma in 2017 in response to an obvious gap in the market for a sustainable transport solution. The idea first developed when Oliver was cycling to his workplace to meet with his boss. Despite travelling similar distances, Oliver had broken into a sweat whereas his boss arrived impeccably dressed, simply because he was on an eBike.

Oliver now plays a pivotal role as head of the company as CEO and Dmitro leads a world-class London-based engineering team as CTO. Already saving 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from previous models, Swytch believes that transport shouldn’t cost the Earth – so they’ve made it their mission to make electric transport accessible to everybody.