Why cycle?

Cycling is an environmentally friendly form of transport because it reduces pollution and congestion. For example, did you know that the average drive to school and back releases more than 800g of CO2 into the air – that’s enough to inflate over 60 balloons!

Encouraging more people to commute to and from work, school and college by bike, instead of taking the car, is key to improving the air quality and tackling congestion in York. We can all play our part by making an effort to reduce our own carbon footprint by cycling more and using the car less.

Cycling also offers many personal and practical benefits. You may be interested to know that…

  • The National Forum For Coronary Heart Disease found that regular cyclists enjoy a level of fitness equal to that of someone ten years younger. 
  • According to a British Medical Association report, cycling is healthy for you as an individual and for the community you live in. It will improve your fitness, help you maintain a healthy weight, lower your risk of a heart attack and help to reduce stress.
  • A British Heart Foundation study concluded that cycling at least 20 miles per week reduced the risk of heart disease to less than half for non-cyclists who take no other exercise.
  • As well as improving your health and well being, cycling can be lots of fun, not to mention a cheaper, quicker and less stressful way of getting from A to B.

Here are just some of the many reasons why…

Bicycles require no road tax, no MOT, no compulsory insurance, no licensing, no breakdown recovery services and, above all, no fuel.

A good bicycle will last for years and needs around £50 worth of maintenance per year, at most. 

For more information about the health benefits of cycling, visit

www.ctc.org.uk or www.bikeforall.net 

Email a friend

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Tell us YOUR cycling story

See your article or photo published on Cycling City York's website!

If you would like to share your own experience of cycling, we'd love to hear from you. Whether you've just started to cycle or have been riding for years, we'd like to hear your story.

Please tell us briefly what topic you'd like to talk about and what it is you're submitting (article, image, video) and we will be in touch.

Note: All articles and images submitted are subject to approval and may be edited. Not all entries will be accepted. You must have consent for the publication of any images/videos submitted.

Links

Just 30
Find the easiest way for you to get fit with Just 30 minutes of exercise a day, and for prizes, promotions and lots of things to do in York

Downloads

York Cycle Route Map 2011 2.68 MB

Route map and guide to cycling in York - whole map browser

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Me and my Bike

A look back on Cycling City York, by Graham Titchener
29/06/2011 A review of what has been achieved through the Cycling City York programme

My favourite cycle route
03/12/2010 Tim Pheby, a cycling consultant based in York, writes about the history of his favourite cycle route along Terry Avenue:

News

Foss Islands Cycle route reopens
20/12/2011 Foss Islands Cycle route reopens

Electricity works underway on Foss Islands Cycle Route
02/11/2011 Cycle lane closures and diversions to Foss Islands Cycle Route are currently in operation due to essential safety works