Get on your bike with Love To Ride Brighton

Lee Reynolds, local project manager for Love to Ride Brighton & Hove, said: "Cycle September is when individuals and workplaces will compete nationally and worldwide to earn the most points by riding and encouraging others to do the same. You can ride anywhere, anytime during September - just a ten minute ride is enough to take part."

Cycling charity Sustrans found that during lockdown more families were enjoying cycling and walking together as the roads have been safer and more quiet.

Government stastics also found that cycling had gone up by 300 per cent and 1.3 millions people bought a bike during the lockdown.. It has announced that it is going to spend £250m in England on improving cycling lanes, pavements and bus routes.

Lee said: "The type of cycle rides that people have been taking have changed with a big spike in recreational riding. This has been due to the fact that many people have been working from home since March. However, with the furlough scheme soon to be coming to an end and staff returning to their place of work, we are hoping that people will continue to use their bikes for their daily commutes.

"We really would like to stress that Cycle September is a great way for furloughed staff to come together remotely to engage in a worthwhile cause. Being fit and healthy has never been so important, and simply getting out on your bike for as little as 10 minutes a day can considerably improve your health and wellbeing."

Through the Love to Rise initiative it has been proven to sustain behaviour change. On average it has found that 40 per cent of non-cyclists take up riding their bike weekly, 31 per cent of non-cyclists will cycle to work one a week, 43 per cent of occasional cyclists now cycle two or more days/week, and 32 per cent of non-commuting cyclists now cycle to work each week.

Lee said: "Cycling to work reduces absenteeism, improves productivity and helps keep staff physically and mentally well. And just now, with fewer people wanting to use public transport and more staff recognising that driving short distances to work is a waste of time and money, we know there’ll be more people wanting to cycle as people get back to work.

"I love the sense of freedom that cycling offers and the mental and physical benefits. I feel so much more productive after I've been out for a ride on my bike. The endorphin release that I get from cycling has become addictive."

For more information and to sign up visit www.lovetoride.net/brighton