20mph limits a ‘massive health enabler’ helping us to fight Covid

THE pandemic has been a nasty business, hasn’t it? But we have been very lucky here in Bristol because our levels of infections and deaths have been lower than any other large UK city.

We need to keep our guard up and not become complacent, or we risk becoming like Birmingham or Manchester with runaway infections.

Liverpool might have won the Premier League at long last but they have a far worse level of infections than here.

There are many factors in play, and it is important to consider that this is all about public health and NHS healthcare. Prevention is better than cure – it is better to stop the virus spreading in its tracks than have to then heroically treat it. That much is common sense.

One key factor could be that Bristol has more people walking and cycling around, which means that the population is healthier than some other cities, and so we are better able to resist the virus when we get it.

I know someone fit, not in Bristol, who got the virus and shrugged it off. Someone else, not fit, got it and had a bad case, and possibly has “Long Covid”.

So maybe our levels of fitness and health have helped counter this nasty disease. And what has helped promote walking and cycling in Bristol? The lower and safer 20mph speed limits, which make the roads safer for everyone – that includes drivers – and so more people feel it is safe to go out walking and to go on their bikes.

Bristol’s city-wide 20mph limits are proven to save four to five lives each year and prevent 170 injuries, major and minor, and they save us £15 million a year.

Some of that £15m a year saved can then go on the NHS.

So not only have Bristol’s 20mph limits saved lives and prevented injuries before the pandemic, they have undoubtedly helped contribute to a safer environment and promoted walking and cycling. This was one factor which helped Bristol be better prepared and fitter when the pandemic struck.

More and more people are now taking up cycling and walking to improve their health. The pandemic shows the great benefits of this, and of safer 20mph limits which are a massive “health enabler”.

John Simpson

Bristol