How does Bikeability promote health and safety?
Cycling promotes good health and longer life. Any risks associated with cycling for both children and adults are far outweighed by the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. Growing levels of inactivity directly increases the likelihood of illnesses such as coronary heart disease, which now kills more than more than 100,000 people in England every year. Cycling for at least 30 minutes a day gives people a level of fitness equivalent to being 10 years younger. In terms of life-years gained and lost, the Government acknowledges that the health benefits of cycling far outweigh any risks involved – by a factor of 20:1 according to information provided by CTC, the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation. The National Standard for Cycle Training, which underpins Bikeability, has been designed by the leading experts in the field of road safety as well as cycling. It is designed on similar principles to lessons for motorcycle riders and car drivers, assessing the likely risks and obstacles face
