When in doubt, pedal it out
At the forefront of many people’s minds right now is the global need to reduce our carbon footprint. This, a clear way to combat the increasingly detrimental effects we are seeing caused by the climate crisis. But in the face of such an overwhelming problem, it is difficult to figure out what we, the ordinary people, can do in our day-to-day lives to make a positive difference.
The key is realising we all can make easy changes in our lives that can help the earth around us; when in doubt, pedal it out…
Changing up how you get places, by swapping out the four-wheeled engined car, for a two wheeled bike, powered by your own body strength, is a simple way to reduce air and noise pollution in your own home environment.
The United Kingdom has already discovered that building cycle lanes is one of the most efficient ways to encourage people to hop on their bike. It is one of the healthiest ways to move people, motivating people to move their bodies and with less cars there is a clear decrease in air pollution and carbon emission output. It is also one of the most effective forms of transport; with a single bike lane transporting five times as many people as a motor traffic lane.
With proper, safe infrastructure and cycle lanes actually made available, there is a proven increase of people choosing to bike instead of drive. Last year showed record highs for cycle lane usage in the UK and with the construction of new networks connecting to existing routes, there is hope even more people with be pedalling it out.
Some key cycle lanes in the UK, clearly indicating the benefits they have brought to their communities, include:
The Leeds to Bradford cycle superhighway. This is 23km in length and was built to provide a cheap and healthy means of transport. Before the route was fully established, the route had 49,640 cyclists per year, but after construction was completed and by January 2019, this had clocked up to 870,764 cycle trips.
Monsal Trail, Peak District: This trail is almost 14km in length, with two cycle tunnels making an exciting commute to work and school. Usage of the cycleway is increasing every year and is saving its cyclists about 1.5 million New Zealand dollars a year in transport costs. This shows, through cycling, you not only help save the environment, but you save money for your own benefit too.
Brighton: Brighton has a 1.6km Danish-style raised cycleway along Old Shoreham Road, which was built in 2012 to encourage and help children travel to school via biking or on foot.
London: London, England’s capital city, is facing increasing pressures and demands on its transport infrastructure, with major issues with congestion as the city only grows in population. As a result, cycling is being encouraged with two major cycle superhighways being opened in the city in 2016. Some streets are being closed to motor traffic too, also boosting cycling. Cycling thus clearly is a way to increase a city’s productivity. It allows businesses to make and receive deliveries, city dwellers can reliably get to work on time, and tourists can visit the city easily and move around conveniently.
Manchester: A protected cycleway along Oxford Road, logged almost 1.1 million cycling trips in 2018, increasing by 11% from the year before. Their Wilmslow Road cycleway saw 103% more usage after just two years of being constructed — indicating if cycleways are built, then people will use them.
But what about New Zealand’s own cycling options?
The Christchurch City Council has designed the new city to be more cycle friendly after the previous earthquakes destroyed many roadways. Cycle maps are provided online and in print to help you figure out your commute; with 32km of separated cycleways linking the suburbs to the central city.
Rotorua has implemented an Urban Cycleways Programme, with cycling an already key component to the city’s economic development, with The Redwoods and Whakerewarewa mountain bike tracks attracting 200,000 visitors each year. Rotorua is working to encourage more on-road cycle facilities and investing in shared pathways to connect key routes around the city.
Auckland has a growing number of cycleways connecting public transport areas, and suburbs and city town centres.
There are clear benefits of encouraging the smarter transport option of cycling. One’s health is improved, through being active and reducing air pollution making it easier to breathe. Our carbon footprint is minimised, helping contribute positively to halting the climate crisis. Congestion is lessened in our big cities, in turn increasing city productivity.
How do you choose to commute? Can you ditch the engine and choose to pedal instead?