THE first annual report of cycling statistics across Scotland has highlighted significant regional differences in the numbers of people cycling to work.

Data gathered by Cycling Scotland shows that twice as many people commute by bike in Edinburgh compared to Glasgow, and that nationally cycling rates need to increase ten-fold over the next five years to hit the Scottish Government's target of 10 per cent of journeys being made by bike by 2020.

The report, which compiles information from a range of sources including the Census, Scottish Household Travel Survey and Transport Scotland, gives a snapshot of cycling trends locally and nationally.

On average, 5.6 per cent of Scots now cycle to work regularly, with the capital boasting the highest rates in Scotland with 12.2 per cent of people journeying to work by bike compared to 6 per cent in Glasgow.

Moray, Argyll and Bute, Stirling and Clackmannanshire are also above average with the percentage of people commuting by bike ranging from 10.3 per cent to 8.4 per cent.

The top 20 council wards for cycling to work according to the 2011 Census are also identified - with Edinburgh and Inverness dominating the list.

The lowest rates were found in Aberdeenshire when fewer than two in a hundred people "usually" cycled to work.

However, the statistic which Cycling Scotland considers to be the most significant - how many people use cycling as their "main mode of transport" - shows that just 1.1 per cent of Scots mainly rely on a bike to get around.

In the Highlands and Islands region that reaches 1.8 per cent, the highest in the country but still far off the Scottish Government's target to have 10 per cent of all journeys made by bike by 2020.

In the Strathclyde and North East regions, it dips to 0.7 per cent.

Keith Irving, chief executive of Cycling Scotland, said the figures - extracted from the Scottish Household Travel Survey - gave the most accurate of where cycling was in relation to the Government's ambition, but was "imperfect".

He added: "It's the best available national picture we have, but our own research suggests that cycling rates are actually higher. But we don't yet have an accurate way of saying how underreported it is."

Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: "I welcome this latest update from Cycling Scotland as part of its role in delivering the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland.

"The increase in some figures is a positive sign but there is still work to be done among all partners to achieve our shared vision of 10% of journeys by bike by 2020.