- Several cities around the world have taken steps to promote the use of bicycles as an appropriate means of transport to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Health experts are convinced that it will also be an effective way out of the pandemic. They can be an example for the Basque Country, although it is difficult to discourage the fact that at the beginning of the confinement the citizen who was going to work by bicycle had a meeting with the Ertzainas.
Journalist Laura Galaup eldiario.es has gathered in the middle the policies that several cities have put in place to promote the use of bicycles as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
In Germany, the Minister of Health and researchers recommend
In some areas of the city of Berlin, bicycles have been expanded to maintain a safety distance of 1.5 metres between cyclists, taking advantage of the measures taken during the pandemic that have led to a reduction in traffic and the release of space on the roads.
The German Minister of Health, Jens Spahn, recommended a month ago the use of the bicycle, as this means of transport is suitable to maintain distances from the coronavirus.
German researchers specializing in physical, mental and mobility health published an open letter on 31 March, reminding them that the use of bicycles "helps to reduce the risk of contagion" and recommended that administrations "speed up infrastructure adjustments" and above all reduce speed limits to minimize accidents.
New Zealand, Colombia and Budapest add miles to the bicycle network
The New Zealand transport minister, Julie Anne Genter, today announced that 90% of these road refurbishment works will be financed by the government.
The Colombian capital, Bogotá, already had 550 kilometres of road for bicycles, and by mid-March another 117 kilometres of temporary bicycle roads have been adapted.
Budapest has also temporarily opened bicycle lanes. He has announced that these lanes will be available until September, but if the experience is positive, some of these lanes will "become fixed after the pandemic has passed".
Free rental bicycles in Brussels, London, Berlin and Glasgow
In the city of Brussels, Billy allows health professionals to use electric bicycles for free rent and the rest of the citizens do not charge for the first 15 minutes.
The Glasgow City Hall has reached an agreement with the Nextbike house, which has bicycles for rent, so that health professionals can go to work for free. London has maintained the same measure.
In the case of Berlin, it is the city council that pays the first 30 minutes of renting the bicycle to all citizens.