COVID19 Update

During the current pandemic, many people have found cycling has provided a great boost to their personal health and wellbeing over recent weeks. In some locations, cycling is now making up a third of all trips.

Berkshire offers huge opportunities for enjoying cycling during this season. There is no limit to the duration of any cycling activity that you undertake, but there are some things that you should be aware of for your own protection:

  • You should continue to stay alert and limit your contact with others
  • You can meet with up to 6 people if you continue strictly to observe social distancing rules by staying two metres apart
  • You should not cycle if you live in a household with someone who has COVID19 symptoms, you should be self-isolating

There are other steps that it is advisable to take to ensure your own protection. Wash your hands after you have been on a ride and consider washing cycling gloves if you used them. Consider wiping down your handlebars etc to ensure that surfaces you are in contact with remain clean.

It is advisable to plan your routes to reduce the potential for inadvertent contact with others, there are a whole variety of urban and rural route guides available here.

A recent study in the Lancet, has shown the long-term health benefits associated with cycling to work. This analysis revealed that the commuters who cycled to work had a 20-percent reduced rate of early death compared to those who drove, and a 24-percent reduced rate of death from cardiovascular disease. The team also found a 16-percent reduction in rates of death from cancer.

1