THE LAST few months have been surreal. The world on lockdown has made many of us feel alone and isolated, and it has shown us how fragile humanity can be. It has also given you time so spend time with your family and in turn, show you that may be a work hard at all costs ethos is not the best or the healthiest way to be. Many have realised that little things in life, such as bike rides can make all the difference to one’s life.

With this in mind, it is clear that cycling is going to be a more prominent form of transport in the future. Up and down the UK plans are going ahead to make cities more cycling-friendly with the widening of pavements and the scrapping of car parking spaces. The idea is to enforce social distancing with more measures of this nature put into place on public transport.

It is not just COVID-19 that is driving these changes. Other aspects, such as a cleaner environment, healthier living, and a desire to fight the effects of climate change, are also playing their part. Now is a good time get a good bike, good cycling gear, and get out on the road. Let’s look closely at some of the benefits of cycling in a post COVID-19 world.

Health

Cycling is one of the best and healthiest activities you can do. It is low impact which protects your joints, and it is one of the most energy-efficient forms of transportation ever invented. Providing you cycle properly and have decent core strength, cycling improves your fitness and muscle tone. Regular road cyclists show a level of fitness comparable to people ten, twenty years younger than them.

The simple fact is that cycling brings considerable health benefits, and it is easy to fit into your life.

Cheap

Cycling is very cost-efficient. After the initial outlay on the bike and related equipment and clothing, there is very little maintenance cost. No petrol tank to fill and no season ticket to buy, once you’re up and running, you will soon find you can cycle to and from work very easily. Once you start riding your bike rather than using public transport or drive, you will soon see the savings in the bank.

It is a satisfying feeling knowing that the price of oil does not affect your cycling.

Social distancing

You may be concerned that travelling on public transport is going to be risky in the future, given the nature of COVID-19. Trains, busses, and tubes can become full of people trying to get from A to B, and the idea of a two-metre distance is impossible. Cycling has social distancing built-in, so not only will you get fitter and healthier, you will have peace of mind.

Bike routes

Negotiating complex city road layouts and related traffic is no fun, especially by car. It can be both frustrating and annoying to have to undertake a small journey by car only to find you’re shunted around one way systems. Parking can also be problematic, and this is set to become more stressful as we go into the months ahead.

Cycling, on the other hand, has few of these problems. You can more or less ride where you need to get to without the traffic, and parking issues car driving brings. You can get to where you need to be quickly and efficiently with minimal fuss. Parking is simply a question of chaining your bike to designated bike racks or a solid lamppost.

With cities adapting road layouts and pavements to be more cycling-friendly, it makes sense that you start thinking about travelling on two wheels rather than four.

Consider electric

As well as adapted road networks, electric bikes (e-bikes) are already established on the market, and more and more models are being released every year. They come in a wide variety of styles and are suitable for all types of cycling. Some assist you as you turn the pedals, while other more powerful models have a kind of scooter functionality.

If you do not feel like pedalling the more powerful model could be for you.

Carbon neutral

Of course, a traditional bike is a great thing. It is carbon neutral throughout its lifespan and provides a great means of transportation. Unlike cars, they don’t spew out any toxic chemicals or CO2. You can get from A to B without worrying about what is going into the atmosphere.

Post COVID-19

Transport post COVID-19 is set to change in several ways. The way we lived is now in the past, and this new world will see the bicycle become a far more prominent means of transportation. Get ahead of the curve, and get on two wheels. You’ll be healthier, fitter, and feel good with every mile you ride.