CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Soderberg numbers and relative car use

(161 posts)

  1. Frenchy
    Member

    Impressive numbers! My own Soderberg numbers for 2021 were 2.72 and 3.04.

    I travelled far less by motor vehicle in 2021 than in any year previously. Total distance was just over 2200 km - previous low was 6600 km (records only began in 2018, but it's pretty likely that all previous years were higher than this too).

    However, no commuting by bike has cancelled all that out, in Soderberg number terms. I only cycled on 121 days in 2021 - down from 310ish in 2018 and 19.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  2. HankChief
    Member

    Bravo both - great to see Soderberg numbers giving a useful insight.

    My own number would have been pitiful - I really miss the cycle commute :-(

    Posted 2 years ago #
  3. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I miss my cycle commute for fitness purposes, but I don't miss it for any other reason really. I had to get up at 6.15am most days; it was frankly dangerous in winter; it took an hour and a half every day; it left me with perhaps an hour each evening for doing fun stuff, like reading or playing music; and it meant I spent most Saturdays recharging.

    With WFH being order of the day, I actually commuted only twice in 2021, and both times I went by motorbike (though one commute was to Galashiels, and I didn't want to take the train). I did have to pop into the office a couple of times to clear stuff from my desk, so I cycled those times.

    All told, I managed to cycle 3888km in 2021, which despite my fears, wasn't actually the least distance I've cycled in one year since 2010 when records began.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  4. Arellcat
    Moderator

    For 2022 I finished up with Sodn small = 3.62 and Sodn large = 9.21, both a fair bit lower than I achieved in 2021. Frankly, I couldn't be bothered being incentivised anymore and just did my thing.

    I walked on 42 days which was ten better than 2021, but I cycled on only 192 days, down 18 from last year; collectively I actively travelled on 221 days, which was 15 fewer than last year.

    I also still used public transport only a tiny amount: I took the tram one day when I went to the zoo, and I used the bus on three days. I didn't go on a train at all, though I drove to watch a few. There were also 65 days when I didn't go anywhere, which at least was a 25% improvement on last year.

    2022 was a little bit more motory than 2021. I was in a car on 24 days, and used my motorbike on 39 days. The York Rally was back on, but my sparkly purple recumbent was still indisposed at that time so I drove instead of taking the train. I also drove for a week away on holiday, although I did some walking and cycling on a couple of those days as well.

    I have no idea what my Patella Number was, but I invented a way last winter to layer thick woollen socks against the fronts of my thighs, under my tights, to help keep my knees and quads warmer while cycling, so wearing shorts hasn't been high on my agenda.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  5. Frenchy
    Member

    Wee and big Soderberg numbers for 2022 were 1.66 and 2.18. Down from 2.72 and 3.04 in 2021, and from 3.38 and 4.05 in 2019. My motorised travel patterns are back to pre-pandemic levels, but I'm not commuting anymore, so the number of days cycled is a fraction of what it used to be (88 in 2022, compared to over 300 in 2019.

    2022 was also only the second year since 2014 that I didn't cycle further than the previous year.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  6. HankChief
    Member

    Bravo both. Fascinating stuff.

    I didn't record mine but they would be pitiful...

    Must.do.better.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  7. LaidBack
    Member

    My cycle use is more or less daily but low mileage. Often electric as using a UA. Did enjoy going manual on Fuego after digging it out of basement.
    Very little cycling for pleasure since October (laid low with sinnus headaches, not breathing easily).
    New year resolution is to get back out for fun rather than moving boxes around!
    Car use once as lift.
    Van use twice for delivery - as passenger to Aberdeen and Glasgow (Cargo bike e-credits hit a bit by that!)
    Bus/train use twice a week in city. Usually one way with walk back.
    Long distance more bus than train recently. E-bus to Dundee takes 1 hour 50 and is free for saltire card holders. Average speed only of around 35 mph but does go via Dundee which is 65 miles! Van to Aberdeen only took 2hr 20.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  8. LaidBack
    Member

    Via Perth I mean. Just lost my edit time..

    Posted 1 year ago #
  9. Frenchy
    Member

    I also started keeping track of the amount of money spent on various modes of transport last year:

    Car 26p/km (petrol contribution was 11p/km)
    Bike 14p/km
    Bus 29p/km
    Train 15p/km

    Car cost includes petrol, insurance, road tax, MOT, maintenance and ETA membership.
    Bike cost includes service, parts, a new helmet, Cycling UK and Audax UK memberships.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  10. Frenchy
    Member

    Wee and big Soderberg numbers for 2023 were 1.85 and 2.71, so improvements on 2022, but still nowhere near pre-Covid figures.

    Investment in shiny new Ortlieb panniers meant I spent a 24p/km cycled in 2023, almost double the 2022 figure.

    Posted 10 months ago #
  11. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I finished 2023 with Sodn small = 1.69 and Sodn large = 12.3.

    My private car use was down to 12 days, each time as a passenger, and either for transporting loads or while travelling with family. I did however ride my motorbike on 76 days on account of having fixed the infernal machine, and then having someone to ride with on several occasions.

    I was also still avoiding public transport. I only travelled on a train three times in 2023: once coming back from Glasgow, and a return trip to York for the Rally. I took a bus just once, and that was in May because unbeknownst to myself, I had just caught The Plague and felt awful, and couldn't bear the cycle home from town.

    Cyclingwise, I managed to ride on 112 days, and I walked on 37 days. Both stats are well down on 2022, but winter 2022-23 was a very bad time for my MH, and as noted, I spent a lot of this summer motorbiking instead of cycling. So collectively, I actively travelled on 147 days, compared with 221 in 2022, so not my best performance ever.

    Posted 10 months ago #

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