Could free bikes help solve our air pollution crisis?

Could a thriving cycling culture banish chronic air pollution? Those at Birmingham city council think it could help, and give residents’ health and mobility a boost at the same time.

A scheme called Big Birmingham Bikes (BBB) has given away 4,000 bikes, and 17,000 residents have received free cycling training. Launched in 2015, the programme targets people most affected by the city’s poor air quality, including those living in deprived areas and homeless people. It is part of the city council’s 20-year Birmingham Cycle Revolution, which aims for 5 per cent of all trips in the city to be made by bike by 2023, and 10 per cent by 2033.

Air pollution was declared a national public health emergency by a cross-party group of MPs in 2016 and Birmingham is one of the worst areas for air quality outside of London. An estimated 3,113 hours of congestion has been avoided in Birmingham city centre as a result of the scheme, say those behind it.

“Transport is responsible for 80 per cent of nitrogen oxide emissions in roadside areas and is one of the key opportunities for improving the situation,” says Mike Pepler, Ashden’s UK awards manager. “The additional health benefits associated with getting people out of cars and on to bikes are well established, making cycling a win-win strategy for tackling this issue.”

As well as aiming to tackle air pollution, BBB offers training to people with little or no cycling experience. BBB staff have linked up with more than 50 community groups, including homelessness and mental health charities, in order to improve mobility, health and wellbeing, and increase access to workplaces, education and training.

As well as training people to cycle confidently around the city, BBB also has created 14 community cycling groups in which people who have been trained pass on their new knowledge to others.

Of the 4,000 free bikes provided so far, 3,400 have gone to members of the public, and 600 to city council wellbeing centres and independent community groups who run short-term bike hire schemes.

 

Source: Positive News

Photograph: © Unsplash

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