More people are cycling in Kingston Upon Thames according to a new report.

The Cycling in Kingston annual report was released by the council Monday (February 4) and looked at the Council's Go Cycle programme.

It showed significant increases in the number of people cycling regularly in the Kingston Upon Thames borough over the past 12 months. Year on year increases since 2014 were also reported, underlining the growing interest Kingston residents are showing for cycling.

The report provided a cycling snapshot in Kingston for borough officers, stakeholders and the public. This first report outlined baseline findings for 2015-16 and from follow up surveys.

Among the reports findings were big increases in the numbers of residents and visitors using the new Go Cycle routes in the borough.

The Portsmouth Road scheme alone showed a 59 per cent increase in cycle lane usage throughout the day. Over peak periods the volume of cyclists using this route grew by 104 per cent, compared with

the same period measured before the route was built.

Cycle training among residents was also up. In 2017-18, the council completed cycle training with 424 adults and 1,717 children compared to 348 adults and 1,594 children in 2016.

Councillor Hilary Gander, Kingston Council’s portfolio holder for sustainability, said that the borough's unique geography and new investments made cycling a great choice for residents.

"Kingston is committed to being one of the most openly accessible places to cycle in London and we are pleased to see that Kingston residents and visitors are engaging with cycling and taking to their bikes in record numbers. Our investment in cycle routes, thanks in part to Transport for London (TfL) funding, will ensure that Kingston continues to provide safe and convenient cycling routes for commuting and for pleasure."

The Council's Go Cycle scheme began after Kingston borough received £32 million of funding from the Mayor of London, in part to ease the growing pressure on the borough's transport network by improving cycling facilities and road safety, while at the same time enhancing the borough's public spaces.

The positive data led the report to publish lofty projections for the future of cycling in the borough, with a 400 per cent increase in cycling from 2015-16 to 2025-26.