By Deborah Bradshaw, Estate Manager
Bike Week runs from 10th – 16th June, and we are absolutely thrilled to have been upgraded from Modeshift STARS Green as an ‘Approved’ travel plan provider to achieving our Bronze accreditation – or a ‘Good’ travel plan! Cycling is an integral part of our improved travel plans and we are very happy to be supporting Bike Week 2024.
Brindleyplace has excellent biking facilities, with plenty of cycle storage as well as Brompton bikes, Beryl e-scooters and West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme available in our Transport Hub on Oozells Street. Our occupiers also have access showers and changing facilities to make the transition to biking to and from work even easier.
To celebrate Bike Week, Dr. Bike will be offering free drop-in bike maintenance and advice between 10.00 am and 2.00pm on Thursday 13th June in Central Square so make the most of that! Having had your bike fully checked out, there’s no reason to not use it as your transport to work!
With so many ways to celebrate upcoming Bike Week, have a read below of all the health benefits you’ll get from biking too…
If you’re looking for a lovely cycle route around the city, ‘Walk, Run, Cycle’ offers route suggestions and links to populate in google maps so you can edit as you need.
Research shows that people who cycle for 30 minutes, 5 days a week take about half as many sick days as those who didn’t. King’s College London compared over 2,400 identical twins and found those who did the equivalent of just three 45-minute rides a week were nine years ‘biologically younger’!
Regular cycling improves heart and lung health, enhancing overall cardiovascular fitness. It helps reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Cycling helps burn calories, reducing body fat and promoting muscle tone. Unlike high-impact activities, cycling is gentle on the joints. It helps increase flexibility and strength in the hips, knees, and ankles.
Regular physical activity like cycling can lower the risk of several chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and osteoporosis. The British Heart foundation found that cycling for 20 minutes twice a week could cut risk of heart disease by 50%.
Cycling also releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. This can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression levels. Cycling increases blood flow to the brain, which can improve cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills. Research has shown that people who cycle before work improve their motivation, ability to deal with stress and manage their time and workload better. They also felt they needed less breaks and finished work on time.
Perhaps a more surprising health benefit of walking and cycling is pollution inhalation. On average, people in cars inhale about 40,000 ultrafine particles per cubic centimetre, which can settle in the lungs and damage cells, whereas walkers and cyclists are exposed to just 8,000, because they travel at the edge of the road and aren’t directly in the line of exhaust.
And of course, the environmental benefits of swapping driving for walking or cycling are enormous. 20 bikes can park in the space of one car. Bikes take 5% of the materials and energy used to make a car, and a bike produces zero pollution. Plus, considering the ‘fuel’ you put in your ‘engine’, you do the equivalent of 2,924 miles to the gallon!
Finally, the cost saving of cycling and walking vs driving doesn’t only help the health of our bank account but our mental health too.
So, this Bike Week, share this blog with your colleagues, organise a team bike ride or look into how you can bike to work! It could be the small step that has a huge impact on your mind, body and planet for years to come.
Practical Tips
• Always wear a helmet and follow traffic rules to ensure safety.
• Start with shorter distances and gradually increase as fitness improves.
References
