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As part of the 2011 Census, the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is to research the transport habits of the UK and Ireland.
The survey, carried out every ten years, revealed back in 2001 that over 650,000 people in the UK, aged 16 to 74, used the bicycle as their main form of transport in 2001.
Road.cc spoke to Census Statistical Design Manager Peter Stokes, who said: "We ask the question on how people travel to work, as well as one on workplace address, to help local authorities assess likely traffic flows to and around their area during rush hour."
This information is then processed and distributed to transport planners who make key decision on road infrastructure.
“The information can also be used to judge the effectiveness of certain policies. For example, do more people cycle if a cycle path is available between home and work than if not? Census statistics also help local authorities identify areas where few people use public transport or cycle, and assess whether providing alternatives to people driving could be effective," added Stokes.
2001 figures showed men as the main bicycle users, with 476,010 stating the bicycle was their main form of transport, whereas just 174,967 women returned the same response.
The Census will be carried out on 27 March 2011.
