Cycling: Is it time to swap four wheels for two?

Conflict in the Middle East has led to volatility in global oil prices, pushing up fuel costs worldwide. Previous oil shocks prompted some countries to reconsider their reliance on cars, investing in alternatives such as cycling. In some places, this has become part of everyday life, while elsewhere it has proved more contested, reflecting wider political and cultural divides. Cycling offers benefits for health and the environment, but it is not practical for everyone. For many people, including those in rural areas or with limited mobility, cars remain everyday essentials. As oil price volatility continues to affect motorists, questions remain about how far behaviour can change. This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: is it time to swap four wheels for two? Contributors: Meredith Glaser, CEO of Urban Cycling Institution, professor of cycling at Ghent University, Belgium, and a senior lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands Levke Sönksen, research associate at the German Institute of Urban Affairs, Germany Dr Eunhye Enki Yoo, professor of Geography at the University of Buffalo, US Martin Tillman, independent transport consultant, UAE Presenter: Gary O’Donoghue Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Sound engineer: Richard Hannaford Editor: Tom Bigwood Production management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey (Photo: Cyclists ride bicycles in Amsterdam. Credit: George Clerk/Getty Images)

You can listen to Cycling: Is it time to swap four wheels for two? online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Cycling: Is it time to swap four wheels for two? is an episode from The Inquiry by BBC.

This episode is 24:38 long.

This episode was published on Apr 21, 2026.

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