Research carried out in 2007, found that bikes are rarely seen on modern TV programmes. Researchers working for Cycling England found that of 95 characters appearing in the UK’s main soap operas only 2 characters – Mickey from Eastenders and Amy from Coronation street were shown to own bikes.
Lead characters were shown only four times on a bike, and one of these shots involved a hit and run accident where Eastender’s Stacey was injured whilst on her bike.
In Hollyoaks, no member was shown to have a bike. Despite 6 million under 16s owning a bike in the UK. However, in a four week period the cast ordered a total of 128 alcoholic drinks and 54 cups of tea! At least some British pastimes were given a fair airing!
Source: The Cyclists Compendium by CTC
To be honest, I never watch soap operas because I find them miserable, depressing and / or silly. In a way it’s not the job of TV to present a positive image of cycling; but, it is interesting to see it’s lack of visibility.
The times when I notice people cycling on TV is usually in period dramas. Programmes like ‘Sherlock Holmes’ ‘Jeeves and Wooster’ and ‘Heartbeat’ It is from the ‘golden age of cycling’ (1950s and 1960s or earlier) when motorists were a rare sight and the village bobby would gently plod around the village on his trusty steel bicycle. Watching tv you can definitely feel that the bike belonged to a past age!
INteresting perspective Dan. I would be quite happy to see the back of TV.
Perhaps it is fair payback that I cycle regularly but do not own a TV. Cycling around town among internet-savvy technologists, I feel more that the TV belongs to a past age.