A scheme to offer cycling on prescription has been welcomed by the shared transport charity, Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK).

The UK Government announced today that trials will be launched in 11 areas in England.
CoMoUK has repeatedly called for measures to encourage GPs to prescribe cycling and said shared bike hire schemes will be well placed to support the pilots.

There are around 40 bike share schemes across the UK, which reduce car mileage for each user by an estimated 3.7 miles every week.

A recent report for CoMoUK found that 49 per cent of users said that joining a bike share scheme was a catalyst to them cycling for the first time in at least a year, with 70 per cent of respondents revealing it had contributed to their total physical activity in the last week, and 20 per cent reporting that it was ‘all’ or a ‘major part’ of the physical activity they had done.

Antonia Roberts, deputy chief executive of Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), said:

“Cycling improves mental and physical wellbeing, and we have been encouraging GPs to highlight these benefits – so this announcement is welcome.

“Bike share schemes will be well placed to support the pilots, as this saves people money because they do not need to own their own bike and ensures that more users can be reached.

“Shared transport such as bike share schemes, along with car clubs, demand responsive transport and e-scooters, alongside public transport, are the key to achieving our net zero goals.”