The benefits to cycling and active travel are overwhelming. From reducing our carbon footprint, to improving physical fitness. A less frequent talked about benefit is cycling’s impact on our mental health. Beginning mornings with light, physical activity can completely change the course of your full day. You get to your destination feeling bright, happy and ready to start the day.
During my time as a cycle leader, I hope like to highlight the impact cycling can have on student’s mental health. All over the world there are an increasing number of students There are many struggling with mental health issues. Often feeling alone and overwhelmed. Incorporating things in our daily lives like cycling can really help boost mood, self-esteem and overall quality of life. It can slowly build momentum, confidence and in turn impact other aspects of students’ lives.
I also love the non-discriminatory nature of cycling. It is an incredible activity for all abilities. One you know how to ride a bike, your physical fitness does not prevent you cycling, you can a just your intensity and build up fitness. Last year, when I was volunteering with an over 60s cycling group, an 85-year-old man told me that cycling was the most liberating hobby he has. He found that cycling took the normal pain he felt walking away and gave him the confidence and motivation to get outside every day.
First steps
Firstly, I plan to evaluate the current cycle facilities and overall culture of cycling on the college campuses. After I have a baseline, I can plan and create strategies in line with the needs of the campus. On my first few days I am hoping to engage with the students and staff. I was thinking of setting up a small area at the entrance of the campus, asking each individual how they travel to college. Having small jars where they can quickly vote car, train, bus, cycle or walk. I also plan to do daily bike counts to gage roughly how many people are cycling to college. Once we have a baseline, we can identify what the barriers may be and prioritise.
Communicating and liaising with student groups, staff, social media teams and other agencies will be an essential component. I hope to share ideas, find out the incredible work that has been done and build upon it as much as I can.
Event ideas and goals
· Active travel or public transport only day for staff and students
· Prizes/incentives for students who active travel – I was thinking of setting up a competition, where staff/students whom cycle to college every other day for 6 weeks win a voucher/prize. We could record it online, using hashtags, photos. We could even ask students what they would like to win.
· Dr Bike, setting up workshops to fix students bike, but also explain the process so they can learn skills to fix their own bike.
· Encourage students and all staff in the environmental department to sign up for Pedal for Scotland 2019. Training for the event by incorporating cycling to college for the next 12 months.
· I also think we can utilise social media as a whole encouraging students to share how they travel, setting up polls to ask questions, finding out what problems they face whilst they travel and what might encourage them to travel by bike- even ditching the car one day a week for the bike.
· I also hope to change the transport promotion that was used on the colleges Instagram this year to include cycling and care sharing
Whatever I achieve, I hope to build upon the work that has been done to create a cycle friendly culture at Edinburgh College.
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