Health benefits of cycling
Why cycle?
It is recommended that adults should aim to do 30 minutes of exercise, 5 times a week. Cycling regularly is a great way to do this and can be a part of your daily routine. Cycling offers many personal and practical benefits, including:
- improving overall fitness
- better weight management
- lowering the risk of heart disease
- helping to reduce stress
- low cost
- great for the environment
Cycle training
If you have never learnt to cycle, haven’t cycled for a while or want to build confidence, Bikeability training is available for adults. Courses run across England and are taught in small groups or one-to-one with an instructor. You can book a session directly with an accredited Bikeability instructor.
Safe cycling
Confident, safe cycling comes from experience and good basic training. The Highway Code is important for all road users. It explains the laws that cyclists must follow to keep everyone safe and gives useful advice.
Top tips for safe cycling
- • keep your bike in good working order – find out how to check it regularly
- • make yourself easy to see by wearing bright, light-coloured reflective clothing and using lights at night
- • use your bell to let others know you are approaching
- • wear a cycle helmet
- • cycle at a steady pace and keep about one metre from parked cars and the kerb - riding too close to the kerb may encourage drivers to attempt to squeeze past
- • be predictable and confident so that all road users are aware of you
- • make eye contact with other road users at junctions and crossings to make sure they have seen you
- • be aware of pedestrians, especially on shared paths, and give them time to move, as some people may not see or hear you coming
- • take care around heavy goods vehicles and buses: stay behind or move ahead of longer vehicles when they are turning left, never go alongside them
- • never cycle on pavements or through red lights; it's illegal and unsafe
App-bikes
There are App-bike hire schemes in Biggleswade and Houghton Regis. These self-service bikes can be hired at any time. There are pick-up and drop-off points across both towns, and you can start or end your journey at any of these locations.
To use the bikes, residents need to register on the app and provide proof of address.
Social prescribing offers personalised support to help you improve your health and wellbeing. We have a referral option to use the app-bikes for free for eligible Biggleswade residents assessed by BRCC.
Cycle maps
We have created a series of maps aimed at walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting in Central Bedfordshire towns. These show on and off-road paths, promoted routes, cycle parking, key landmarks and lots more. Maps are available for:
- Ampthill and Flitwick
- Arlesey and Stotfold
- Biggleswade
- Dunstable and Houghton Regis
- Leighton-Linslade
- Sandy
Cycling for leisure
We have maps for self-guided circular cycle routes, which show both off-road routes - making use of bridleways and the national cycle network - or on quiet roads. They include directions, useful information, and points of interest along the way.