Have a look at your 2011 Census form. What are we to make of Question 17: “This question is intentionally left blank. Go to 18.”?

Has the census compiler been told to write 43 questions for Section 1 come what may, and slipped in this left-fielder thinking fifty million adults would never notice?

There’s been a right hoo-har around about Question 20: “What is your religion?”. Interestingly, at the top of the list of options, is “no religion.” Alphanumerically it should be “Buddhist” followed by “Christian”. I bet the Buddhists are fairly chilled about this slight, but what of the Jedis?

At the last census in 2001, members of the Order of the Jedi Knight petitioned successfully to have their ‘religion’ listed on the form alongside Paganism and Satanism.

This time round, the six big faiths are listed by name, while adherents of the Jedi Knight, Wicca and the Church of Free Love have been relegated to “Any other religion, write in”.

I guess including “Jedi Knight” on the form had proved too tempting for members of the Great British public.

For me, the real interest lies in Question 41, “How do you usually travel to work?” There is a fairly comprehensive list of commuting options, so quite what anyone could come up with for the 11th “other”, I don’t know.

Perhaps it’s for the Jedi Knights, who, of course, would use a landspeeder to get to work. Sadly the Government doesn’t actually want to know what “other” you use, as there is no write-in section here.

It will be immediately obvious to readers of this column that the Census has been compiled by a metropolitan underground or tram user, as this is the first of the transport options. Although “bicycle” should be the first in the list from an alphanumeric point of view; it in fact lingers third from last, above “on foot” And “other”.

As a cycling nut, I am slightly conflicted about how to complete Question 41. I am bound to want to say “bicycle” just to big up my preferred mode. But the form says, “Tick one box only.” So I can’t tick “bicycle” and then, “other” to indicate that I usually travel to work by stumbling up a flight of stairs to my office in the converted loft. I am mindful also that “You could face a fine if you supply false information.”

Why would I want to tick cycling, then, if I don’t get to work that way? According to Peter Stokes, 2011 Census Statistical Design Manager, “We ask the question on how people travel to work, as well as one on workplace address, to help local authorities assess likely traffic flows to and around their area during rush hour. The information can also be used to judge the effectiveness of certain policies. For example, do more people cycle if a cycle path is available.

“Statistics also help authorities identify areas where few people use public transport or cycle, and assess whether providing alternatives to driving could be effective.”

So Census data showing high cycling demand might mean more money is spent on providing for bicycles.

Irrespective of my answer to Question 41, there is no doubt that the Census will show a huge increase in cycling.

In the 2001 Census, 476,010 men cycled to work, compared with 174,967 women. That’s only 650,000 compared with the 13,050,529 people who drove to work, plus the 1,477,211 people who commuted as car passengers.

In the past five years, London alone has more than doubled its number of cycling commuters, and with bike sales at £850m per annum, the Census should put cycling commuters at well over a million.

Now, back with Question 41... I could get down the loft stairs on my old mountain bike. The question is, can I convince the Census police that I cycle up the stairs as well?