Brits break cycling records with over 7 million taking part during Covid-hit 2020
by Thomas Mehari
With lockdown rules affecting the activities in most areas of life, cycling has, in fact, seen a positive impact due to Covid-19.
Last year was certainly challenging for many reasons with schools, workplaces and places of leisure being deemed unsafe due to the ‘silent killer’. Due to this, a strict set of guidelines were put in place to ensure safety where possible.
With the government imposing rules allowing citizens to leave their homes for exercise reasons, many took it upon themselves to use the lockdown as a chance to get fit and healthy.
Some people took up running whilst others decided to swap their yoga mats for the living room carpet in search of a workout. With roads also being much quieter due to fewer people travelling in vehicles, many Brits found cycling to be their favoured method of physical activity.
Figures released by Statista showed that in 2020, over 7.5 million people participated in cycling either for work, leisure, or travel purposes.
A closer look at the figures also show that approximately 1 million more Brits rode a bicycle in 2020 when compared with 2019.
Whilst people have been cycling to get fit, many found it to be a great substitute for public transport. Covid-19 has been proven to spread very easily therefore deeming public transport a risky way for many local workers.
For many people affected by lockdown, cycling has offered a way to get out of the house and stay active whilst also maintaining their mental health.
Harrison Read, 24, who lives in Southampton, found that cycling daily allowed him to forget how drastically his life had been altered due to Covid-19.
He created a documentary, Braking The Cycle, which focuses on men’s mental health and how cycling helped him and others to stay strong, both physically and mentally, during the troubling time.
Harrison, formerly of Waterlooville, said: “For me, cycling has been a massive opportunity to get outside and become active. I’ve had so much more spare time to what I’m used to so being able to get out on the bike has become a regular occurrence.”
Harrison created the documentary as he was keen to show how much of a difference getting on a bike can make to your mental health.
“Science has proven that cycling a bike can reduce the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) in the body, being able to get out and feel alive makes a huge difference,” he said.
“Being out on the bike gives you a sense of freedom and adventure during a time of loneliness in lockdown.”
It is quite possible that these figures will continue to rise with no end date for the current lockdown, which may interest other Brits to get up and out of their homes for some physical activity. Will 2021 be the year you join Harrison and millions of others by getting on a bike again?
