Central Coast residents are being urged to consider the health, environmental, economic and social benefits of cycling to work.
The call comes from Central Coast Local Health District’s Health Promotion Service following World Bicycle Day on June 3.
Health promotion officer, Nigel Tebb, said that with a shift towards walking, running and cycling as a leisure and exercise activity during COVID-19, now was the perfect time for people to continue improving their health by cycling to and from work.
“COVID-19 has restricted many of the things we took for granted as part of our daily lives,” he said
“Exercise has been one of only a few activities that has remained a constant possibility under government guidelines, and more people have been enjoying biking as a result.
“As many of us begin to think about returning to our places of work as restrictions lift, we’re urging people to consider active transport, such as cycling, to commute.
“Not only is it a convenient way to get the vital exercise we need for both our physical and mental health, it’s also a much cheaper and greener way to travel.
“For short trips, it’s often faster than driving too.”
Tebb believes now presents a unique opportunity for the Central Coast to become a more active, healthy and sustainable region.
Figures from the Household Travel Survey 2018–19 suggest there is room to increase active transport on the Coast.
The survey found 72 percent of travel in the region was by private motor vehicle, while commuting for work-related business was cited as the reason for nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of household travel.
“According to the 2016 Census, more than 95,000 people both live and work on the Central Coast, with local people making up 91 per cent of the Central Coast workforce,” Tebb said.
“That’s a significant number of people, some of whom could potentially travel actively to work.
“When you add that to the recent Household Travel Survey figures, you can start to see the scale of the opportunity here.
“If we can continue this trend, we have seen during COVID-19 of an increased uptake in cycling, then we have a unique opportunity on the Coast to become a more active, connected and healthy community,” he added.
Central Coast Health Promotion runs a Go Active 2 Work Day every third Wednesday of the month, with monthly gatherings in William St, Gosford.
Source:
Press release, Jun 1
Central Coast Health