Taking to two wheels as part of treatment to improve his mental health has changed Alan Crow’s life.
The Barrowvian became isolated and needed support after the break-up of a long-term relationship.
A health well-being coach mentioned that a Travel Actively programme existed and recommended he consider taking up cycling.
“It was something I loved doing when I was younger and it was something I wanted to get back into,” Alan said. ”I’d just been sitting indoors and knew my mental health had seriously deteriorated.”
Alan received a bike from Barrow on Bikes CIC, a community interest company based on Barrow Market.
The change has been transformational.
Alan became a volunteer with the same group that helped him and is now director of the Barrow on Bikes CIC.
Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland councils have launch a new Travel Actively Cumbria website. It is being delivered as a partnership with Active Cumbria, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council, with funding from the Government.
The aim is to inspire more people to take up walking, wheeling or cycling for every day journeys to improve their physical and mental health.
It’s claimed choosing to travel by walking, wheeling or cycling rather than car can improve our health and well-being and benefit the environment too.
Many everyday journeys in urban areas are within reasonable walking (one mile) and cycling (three miles) distance so can be done actively.
In line with the Government’s national ambition, councils in Cumbria would like to get half of all journeys in the county’s towns and city made by walking, wheeling and cycling by 2030.
Westmorland and Furness Council is investing in infrastructure to make it safer for people to choose walking and cycling. The North Walney route from Vickerstown Park to Earnse Bay is underway while work on a new route from Ramsden Square to Park Drive junction will start in April.
For Alan, cycling has helped turn his life around and he has these words of encouragement for others: “I would suggest that anyone that wants to start cycling for their heath, whatever their reason, it’s a great way to boost it.”
