Today, on the Renewal, Infrastructure and Sustainability panel, we spent some time looking into cycling, amongst other things.

We heard that just 3% of all journeys in Nottingham are taken by bike – even though over half of households in the city don’t have access to a car.

The Council says it wants to take cycling much more seriously in the coming years, by building bikes into the programme when it does other big projects, by improving the cycling facilities there are already around, and by promoting cycling wherever it can.  New bike parking at the railway station is certainly on the cards.

But some of the suggestions made at the meeting may not see the light of day.  Ski lifts up the steep Woodborough Road are pretty unlikely to happen, I fear.

The most important thing to take from the meeting was some information given by a representative of the local health service who said that all the evidence pointed at cycling being good for you.  Building in 30 minutes of exercise three times a week is essential for a healthy heart – and cycling some of your regular journeys instead of going by bus or car is one of the easiest way of getting the exercise.

I currently have an excuse – I’ve never figured out how to balance on a bike, despite having had two or three goes over the last ten years.  There is a service in Nottingham for adult cycle learners – called Ridewise.  I’ll let you know if they can help me.

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