Originally Posted by Pootler

A region in England is trialing "prescribing" cycling through it's state funded national health service.
Cornwall residents will benefit from. the project which "will involve health professionals, such as GPs (physicians) and social prescribers, referring patients to groups that will help them be more active through cycling or walking."

Among remedies offered will be

• Cycle confidence courses
• Adaptive cycle sessions
• Access to bikes through cycle loans
• Access to e-bikes through a loan initiative
• Local bike banks
• Cycle maintenance training
• Walking groups

Now I'm all for getting people fit and healthy through active lifestyle choices, but let's be honest here, the single biggest shift would be brought about by BUILDING SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE - if kids and regular folk were separated from fast moving cars and given direct, completely safe routes that went where they needed to go like shops and schools, then there would be an immediate benefit and shift. It would save them a lot of money on rapidly increasing fuel prices too. You can read more here: bikesy.co.uk/features/every-day-cycling/cornwall-residents-to-be-prescribed-cycling-on-the-nhs/