A GP at the Ross Practice in Harlow for over 20 years, Dr Tim Rundell is passionate about the benefits that cycling and walking brings to both the environment and the wellbeing of his patients.
And in this blog for Harlow & Gilston Garden Town, Dr Rundell explains how new and existing infrastructure across the local area can inspire a change in travel habits and have a positive effect on the next generation of Harlow residents.
I was raised in Stevenage which, like Harlow, was part of the post-war New Town movement.
Stevenage also had something else in common with Sir Fredrick Gibberd’s Harlow and that was an extensive network of cycle tracks which were separate from the road network.
With that came an opportunity to cycle from an early age and that’s something that has stayed with me for life.
Cycling gave me total freedom as a youngster, I could go anywhere safely and I didn’t have to rely on anyone to give me a lift in their car.
If I wanted to go down to the swimming pool in the summer holidays then I’d just jump on my bike.
My secondary school was on the other side of the town so I’d cycle there every day as well.
Riding my bike became a habit growing up and that continued during my time as a student at medical school in London.
And here I am in Harlow all these years later, cycling around 60-80 miles a week, sometimes more in the summer months.
Why is cycling so good for you? Studies show that being exercising outdoors in the sunshine helps people’s wellbeing.
Not everyone enjoys the gym for various reasons so walking and cycling is a great alternative to stay active on a regular basis.
Gyms can be expensive but cycling doesn’t have to be and walking certainly doesn’t cost you anything.
You really don’t need a top range bike for local journeys in Harlow either.
Three to five gears, good brakes, something that can get you from A to B and is safe should be the priority.
Refurbished second hand bikes are a cheap way to access something good, I bought one in Harlow for my daughter some years ago and she used it to cycle to her work as a nurse in London for many years.
It is all good exercise and helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes and obesity.
The NHS recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise and, if you’re doing something like cycling and walking everyday, then it makes it easier to achieve this.
People forget that if you’re exercising regularly then that takes the pressure off our local health services, as well as improving your quality of life.
If you’re an employer then it makes perfect sense to encourage your staff to cycle to work, it is much easier and cheaper to provide bike storage rather car parking spaces so there’s a financial incentive there as well.
Cars are convenient and I drive an electric vehicle when it comes to longer journeys but cars can also be unreliable and costly if they break down.
And if you’re not reliant on one mode of transport then you’re going to be confident getting on a bike instead and getting on with your day.
Harlow & Gilston Garden Town have been working with Sustrans on educating Primary School children on the benefits of active travel and that’s fantastic to see.
Some children are even allowed to cycle or scooter to school which is great.
But unfortunately, it seems, we’ve also got a culture where children get up in the morning, get ready and it is straight into the car with mum or dad for a fairly short journey to the school gates.
And if everyone does that then you’re got local traffic congestion meaning longer journeys and frustrated drivers. The whole thing is repeated at home time as well.
There’s a lot of evidence now that children and adults, throughout their lives, suffer from exposure to air pollution.
It can cause very serious problems in some children with asthma and other respiratory conditions, the evidence is there that it negatively impacts people’s health.
Which is why I’m optimistic about the new walking, cycling and bus infrastructure that’s coming as part of the Garden Town and the wider Harlow Town Centre regeneration.
I already use the recently resurfaced cycling track around the Pinnacles area when cycling from home to my surgery and it’s very good.
We’ve also got the active travel work taking place between Burnt Mill roundabout and the Town Centre.
You can already see that this is going to make journeys easier as there’s a proper separation for cyclists and people walking so that looks much safer on first look and will encourage regular use.
Being outside is so good for your mental health and you just don’t get that same feeling from being in a car every day.
So if you are feeling a bit stressed, go out cycling or walking in the countryside.
Go out walking or cycling in Harlow Town Park, every time I’m there I think what a wonderful place it is and I hear the same from my patients and colleagues all the time.
The cycling tracks across Harlow are very picturesque and relaxing, you’re often riding through tree lined areas, residents that don’t cycle probably don’t know how good they are and they’re missing out on a great experience.
I think people see cars as a freedom thing and I understand that.
But you can get that same feeling of independence from cycling and walking around Harlow, it is really enjoyable and so good for you.
