Analysis has found St Helens is the eighth worst place in England and Wales for cyclists.

To celebrate International Bike Week 2022, life insurance experts at Forbes Advisor decided to establish which towns and cities in England and Wales are the best for cycling enthusiasts.

To discover this, Forbes Advisor assessed the latest air quality data from Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, climate/weather data from the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis and cycling pathways data from Sustrans to establish which towns and cities in England and Wales are the best for cyclists.

St Helens ranking

Forbes Advisor found that Birkenhead in Merseyside is the worst location in England and Wales for cyclists, with an overall index score of 9.00.

Meanwhile, St Helens was found to be the eighth worst location for cyclists, with it scoring 23.40 in the index.

Kevin Pratt, from Forbes Advisor, commented on the research.

He said: “Exercise, for many of us, is its own reward. It helps us feel better, and it gives us the energy and sense of well-being we need to set about our daily lives with a positive attitude. And when it comes to an important product such as life insurance, it can even help us save money.

“When you apply for life insurance, you’ll be asked to provide detailed information about your health and medical history, including your height and weight, how much alcohol you drink, and whether you are a smoker. If the insurance company judges that you’re in good shape for your age and have a healthy lifestyle, then generally you’ll get a lower premium than someone who is broadly similar to you but who is deemed seriously overweight or who overindulges in alcohol or uses tobacco.

“If you live in an area that has the spaces and facilities to enable you to get plenty of exercise, that’s something to celebrate. But even if you aren’t, you can hopefully find a safe and enjoyable walking, running or cycling route nearby that will help you stay fit and on top of your game.”

What St Helens Council has said in response

But St Helens Council has issued a statement in response.

Cllr Andy Bowden, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “The survey appears to focus on the Sustrans cycle network only and not the wide range of cycle routes beyond this.

“St Helens borough does have a number of significant established cycle routes, such as  the Sankey Valley and Chester Lane/Jubits Lane.

“We are currently in discussion with Sustrans about opportunities to link into their national network in future.  We also have plans to significantly expand our cycling network over the coming years and are progressing plans and designs for this borough-wide.

“Promoting active travel, including providing infrastructure which helps to make walking and cycling a safe and attractive choice for local journeys is a core theme through a number of the council’s adopted policies.

“It is also a key priority in the St Helens borough strategy, St Helens climate response plan and the St Helens active lives strategy, amongst others.

"We are thus committed to continuing to expand the walking and cycling network across the borough to help deliver on these policies.”