Get on your bike for Bike Week!

Bike week is taking place from 6 to 14 June and Buckinghamshire Council are encouraging residents to dust off their bikes and get out on the roads, trails and bridleways.

Life has been turned upside down over the last few weeks, and whether you are new to cycling or have been riding for a while, making cycling a part of your everyday routine is a great way to exercise but also a better way to travel – for you and our environment.  Government guidelines recommend avoiding unnecessary travel but if you need to it’s recommended that walking and cycling are your first options. Alongside commuting, cycling is a great opportunity to get your daily exercise in and has great benefits for your overall mental health and wellbeing.

Cabinet member for Sports and Leisure, Clive Harriss said: “Cycling is a great way to get about and see our beautiful county. It’s also a great way to reduce congestion on the roads and the pollution it produces, helping create a greener county. ”

He adds “Sustainable and active travel is a top priority for the council especially while we’re looking at ways to travel safely at this time. There are lots of ways to get involved in Bike Week. Why not cycle to work, get to know some new countryside routes, meet a friend or two for a social distanced bike ride or take the family out for some fresh air on two wheels.

We’d love to see how you’re taking part in Bike Week – share what you get up to with us @BucksCouncil.”

There are also a number of other benefits to cycling:

• Cycling to work can mean you have a 45% lower risk of developing cancer, and a 46% lower risk of cardiovascular disease
• If you cycle regularly in adulthood, you will enjoy a level of fitness equivalent to someone 10 years younger
• If all cycle journeys increased from the current level of 2% to 25% by 2050, the collective benefit would be £248bn

To find out more about the 7 day challenge and how you can get involved visit https://www.cyclinguk.org/bikeweek/7daysofcycling

Residents can share their pictures of getting out and about on their bikes during Bike Week with @BucksCouncil.

*stats for https://www.cyclinguk.org/statistics