‘Encouraging cycling will improve air pollution in and around Chichester’

Chichester Cycle Forum secretary Andrew Gould – see his letter here – observes ‘one of the side-effects of lockdown are roads practically deserted’ thereby safeguarding cyclists from ‘the constant fear of being knocked down by a passing car’.

I wish to add my voice to his plea that, after lockdown, we can all cycle ‘with the same level of safety we enjoy now’.

France will be encouraging people after lockdown to cycle to reduce air pollution by making everyone eligible for bike repairs up to €50.

Boris Johnson, when mayor of London, said: “It is vital to get people out of their cars, ease congestion, encourage fitness, walking and cycling – the benefits are vast, well-proven.

“If you could magically switch, say, 20 per cent of car trips to bikes you would instantly have a country that was considerably healthier, more equitable, safer, less noisy, less polluted and with considerably lower emissions.”