We live in a city where everyone is used to using public transport. Catching a bus or a train is part of many people’s daily routine. However, there is a healthy and environmentally friendly alternative that can be the best choice for fairly short journeys. I’m talking about cycling. Riding a bike is good exercise, it can be the fastest way to reach certain places and it has no age limit.

Cycling is actually a very good exercise for the elderly. When you cycle, the movement is smooth and regular and it doesn’t stress the joints. You don’t have to be very strong to cycle either. Cycling is an excellent cardiovascular exercise and it can improve your cardiovascular health. It can help you have better balance too, which can be very important because the elderly are more prone to falls. 

Apart from the physical benefits, there are other reasons to cycle. Cycling is also good for your mental health. It’s been proven that it helps reduce stress and ease anxiety and improves your memory by building new brain cells in the hippocampus, which is very good especially for the elderly. 

Finally, there are good environmental reasons for cycling. Bike riding is a pollution-free mode of transport that reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality in our city. But pollution is not just about gas emissions, but also about noise, and cycling can reduce noise pollution too.  

On the other hand, safety has to be a priority: always wear a helmet (and replace it every five years), use arm signals before you turn right or left, obey the traffic lights, and look behind before you turn, overtake or stop. There are safe places in Lewisham where you can cycle. For example, you can ride your bike in one of the many parks in our borough so you can do some physical activity while you are surrounded by nature. Lewisham Council also offers maps that include routes on quieter roads, through green areas and along cycle lanes. Just take a look at this website: https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/transport/cycling/Pages/Cycle-map-of-Lewisham.aspx it’s never too late to take advantage of this fast, healthy and environmentally friendly way of travelling.