In the wake of policy announcements committing significant investment in walking and cycling infrastructure across many cities in the world, an overhaul of how we move from A-B away from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles and towards healthier and more sustainable modes of transport is encouraging.
In the UK, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is pushing ahead with plans to widen existing pavements, extend the city’s cycling network and implement traffic-calming measures in residential areas; “I urge the government and boroughs to work with us to enable Londoners to switch to cleaner, more sustainable forms of transport and reduce the pressure on other parts of our transport network once the lockdown is eased.” As if in response, today the UK Government committed an unprecedented £2billion of investment to support growth in cycling and walking.
It’s happening, and this change is permanent.
So, if you haven’t done so yet, now is the time to dust down that old bike, grease up the chain, don your helmet and get free-wheeling. If you’ve been ‘meaning to get a bike’ and still haven’t got round to it, or if you have a long-standing fear of braving the chaotic city streets on two wheels, fear no more! City choking cars remain locked up and unlikely to return to the streets overnight making for a cleaner, greener and safer cycling environment. And with social distancing making public transport unpreferable the next few weeks and months are a great opportunity to build up your confidence, get outside, and get exploring the city on two-wheels.