Pedal power: 2009 sees dramatic rise in cycling holiday bookings
Last updated 1/15/2009 4:04:23 PM
Cycling in Scottish Highlands
Cycling continues to be one of the hottest travel trends at home and abroad, thanks to the huge successes of Vélib in Paris and Bicing in Barcelona.
The British nation’s interest is also sparked by Sir Chris Hoy’s triumph as the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, in addition to the GB Cycling unit being named Team of the Year – and Dave Brailsford the Coach of the Year at the same awards.
English and French councils have unveiled plans for a 218-mile cycle path linking St Paul’s Cathedral in London and the Notre Dame in Paris, which is expected to be completed by the Olympics in 2012.
The route will take in classic buildings and regions of beauty, and be mostly traffic-free.
Since August 2008, travel specialist Explore has seen a dramatic rise in cycling holiday bookings.
Explore’s Paul Bondsfield said, “At the beginning of August, cycle bookings were already substantially up year-on-year, but since the Olympics, bookings growth is at around 25% and the increase has come in a traditionally quieter booking period, and amid the general slow-down. The programme has grown steadily over the past three years, but this recent surge has outstripped even the previous upward trend.”