ON YOUR BIKE!
More and more people take to two wheels as lockdown sparks a global cycling craze
Since countries went into lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus, there has been a huge increase in the number of people using bicycles. In response, world governments have announced new plans that could make transport more environmentally friendly in the future.
What’s happening?
Across the world, the number of bike journeys has gone up as people take fewer trips by car and public transport because of the coronavirus lockdown. In some parts of the UK, there has been a 70% rise in the number of people going cycling. Bike shops have also reported a big rise in sales. Halfords, in the UK, says that sales of some cycling equipment have risen by
500% since the lockdown began. In Australia, bike shops are struggling to meet demand. One store owner said that bikes have become
“the new toilet paper”.
Why has cycling become so popular?
In many countries, people have been told to stay at home and only go outside for essential trips or exercise. In the UK, cycling was one of the Government’s approved daily exercise activities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that cycling is one of the best forms of transport to help avoid spreading the virus, which means people can be more physically distanced than if they used other means of transport. Sam Jones, who works for the charity Cycling UK, told The Week Junior, “We have started seeing a lot more people, particularly families, going out riding and taking advantage of the quieter roads.” He says that many people have “rediscovered the joy of cycling” as a result.
How might this change the future of transport?
Governments around the world have announced new measures to encourage people to cycle more often in the future. On 9 May, the UK Government announced a £2 billion plan to make transport more environmentally friendly, which included doubling the number of cycling lanes across the country. People who have returned to work in the UK are being encouraged by the Government to cycle there and back if possible. In Milan, Italy, 22 miles of streets will be transformed into cycle lanes and walkways. Other cities around the world, such as the French capital, Paris, and New York in the US, have also announced plans to increase the number of cycle lanes.
Why is cycling good for the environment?
Road transport is one of the world’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, because most vehicles are powered by burning fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel. These give off greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), which is one of the main causes of climate change (the long-term change in world weather patterns, including rising temperatures, largely caused by human activities). There has been a fall in CO2 emissions worldwide since the lockdown began. Cities are encouraging cycling as a cleaner way to travel in the future.