Dr Lawrence Foley, Future Academies chief executive, is a member of the Labour party who has campaigned and supported several issues, particularly issues relating to education. This article will provide an overview of the health benefits of cycling and why millions of workers are commuting to work to improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
In an ‘always on’ age, squeezing in time to maintain a fitness regime can be challenging. However, as many professionals are rapidly coming to see, combining the daily commute with an exercise session is a great way to get fit without having to make time for the gym.
In addition to negating the need to pay expensive gym membership fees, cycling work also helps commuters to cuts their transportation costs. Trips need not be particularly long or arduous, with the NHS recommending that 19- to 64-year-olds should ideally complete a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week, ideally spread across four or five days. If a worker completes a 15-minute each way commute via bicycle five days a week, they have met their minimum activity target. For those who live further from work, it is possible to combine transport types, for example, completing part of the journey by train and part by bike so that they can achieve the recommended minimum.
Commuting via bicycle calls for the right kit. Any cycle will do, although for those completing some of the journey via public transport, a folding bike is best. Commuters can ride in their normal work clothes, although those cycling for fitness will be working harder and therefore sweating more, making it prudent to invest in some Lycra and bring along a change of clothes.
Cycling commuters need to set their own goals. They may be training for a charity ride, or simply seek to improve their fitness. Cyclists are more likely to stay motivated when they have something to aim for, even if the objective is simply to keep pace with their friends on their next club ride.
Planning routes helps cyclists to gauge their journey in advance, including the distance and travel time. This is particularly important for those who are new to cycle commuting, as the last thing they will want is to take a wrong turn, arriving at work late and flustered. Fortunately, there are a wealth of online resources available, including Cycling UK’s Journey Planner, which helps cyclists to plot routes, highlighting the quietest and fastest options. The app also provides information on distances, as well as predicting arrival times and even calculating the amount of CO2 commuters are saving by cycling instead of driving.
In addition to the financial incentives and opportunity for regular exercise, cycling is fun, encouraging commuters to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the scenery around them. As well as presenting the opportunity to trim up and lose weight, cycling simultaneously enables commuters to lower their carbon footprint, contributing to cleaner air and reduced pollution. In terms of mental health, cycling presents numerous benefits, stimulating the release of endorphins to lower stress and boost mental wellbeing and encouraging participants to slow down and live in the present.
Keeping track of their efforts helps cycling commuters to remain motivated, as well as enabling them to monitor their fitness. Rather than purchasing an expensive Apple Watch or other fitness wearable, cyclists can simply download a free app to their phone that tracks how far they have travelled and how quickly, as well as logging other aspects, such as effort expended and calories burned.
Staged in June each year, Bike Week was launched with the mission of encouraging people across the UK to integrate cycling into their everyday lives. Since its inauguration in 1923, Bike Week has encouraged thousands of riders to celebrate everyday cycling, from pro cyclists to those who have not cycled in years.
