Scarcely a day passes when I don’t use my bike, my irritability levels increase the longer I go without my fix. I try to avoid the car but sometimes parenthood has an unavoidable impact. It’s not about the health issues but predominately about a mix of convenience and enjoyment. Congestion is becoming more prevalent in my hometown, like most places, with endless road-works and incessant cars creating a continual cycle of monotony and despair. So I have turned to my trusty two wheels as a foil to this eternal misery, it’s a convenient method of getting from A to B relatively stress free. Hopefully the legacy of the 2012 Olympics and the recent British success in the Tour will only enhance cycling’s appeal to the masses. Ok as with most things there are downsides, the effects of carbon omissions and the threat of the occasional SMIDSY but these are accepted (minor) hazards and are completely outweighed by the wholesome experience of pedalling exposed to nature, the elements and just think of those healthy brownie points you are amassing.
This brings me on nicely to the topic of pollution and the effects on the health of cyclists in the UK and Ireland. I recently visited China and was shocked by the levels of pollution in the major cities, especially Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. The levels are now so bad that the government both regionally and nationally has had to introduce stringent measures to reduce the impact on its residents.
Yet, I am increasingly seeing cyclists wearing masks on the UK streets, and this isn’t just on the obvious urban streets but also in rural less populated areas. Is this a genuine concern?, is pollution at the levels where its logical to don masks to reduce the impact on health? Or are we being over caution especially in suburbs and sleepy shires?
Research dictates that the levels of pollution created by vehicles in the UK is a concern but not significant enough to implement measures like we see in China. Congestion and pollution sit together in this debate and with China and other eastern countries topping the list of the world’s congested and polluted cities, its right for them to acknowledge the impact on health and take steps to reach a satisfactory resolution.
The UK’s major cities are aware of the impact from congestion and are continually working with transport providers to promote the benefits of using public transport or with health providers to highlight the positives of regular exercise and choosing walking or cycling as a great alternative to the car. Locally and nationally through several initiatives and organisations, notably Sustrans, the UK is vigorously pushing cycling and its benefits, both for the individual and the environment. In the long run, pollution is about education, time and mostly money. We all need to accept pollution abatement as an important factor in our lives and individually take steps to address ours and societies shortcomings. The first positive step is leave the car at home and jump on a bike, simple and effective.
Your thoughts are as always appreciated
Happy Pedalling
Scot
Scot Whitlock Editor, CADENCE Cycling Magazine (coming soon)
Twitter: @cadencemag
Website: www.cadencemag.co.uk
Author ‘Simple Words from the Saddle’ & ‘Simply More Words from the Saddle’
Twitter: @saddlescot
Blog: [email protected]
Kazakhstan trip: www.pedaltheunknown.com
