During this challenging time, it is important to keep active in line with the government’s social distancing advice. And you are allowed to exercise outdoors once a day. Cycling has a number of proven health benefits helping you to keep fit and have fun – as well as being good for the environment by helping to cut congestion on our roads and air pollution.

However, in line with the current government’s rules, you should only do this alone or with members of your household (unless any of them have reason to self-isolate). Under no circumstance should you take part in any cycling activity in groups beyond your household.

And you must always follow the social distancing rules – by maintaining a gap of two metres (six feet) between you and anyone else. Please read our article on social distancing.

If you have not cycled in a while or are not sue of what route to take, why not use the London Cycling Campaign’s route planner? The planner will show you the quickest and quietest route to get to your end destination.

If you are looking for inspiration where to cycle to, or along, why not check out some of these routes?

• Ealing benefits from segregated cycle routes; including the Ruislip Road East Quietway that provides a segregated path from Greenford Broadway to Ealing along the Ruislip Road East; and more recently Transport for London has completed works on the segregated A40 Cycleway that runs from Wood Lane to Kathleen Avenue – a great route for those who live in Acton to try out
• Ealing’s parks are also currently remaining open and provide a great chance for you and your household to take in the borough’s beautiful greenery (as long as you abide by the social distancing guidelines, which are being monitored by park rangers and ParkGuard officers).

Before cycling, it is important to refresh yourself with the following tips to ensure you cycle safely and confidently, thanks to the London Cycling Campaign:

• Look‚ signal‚ manoeuvre – Before making any move on the road‚ look around and over your shoulder, then make a hand signal to let people know where you are going
• Eye contact – Look drivers, pedestrians, other cyclists in the eye‚ rather than just at their vehicle. That way, they will see you as a person too
• Keep away from the kerb – Try and ride at least one metre away from parked cars (to allow for doors opening), the gutter (which can be in a vehicle’s blind spot) or any other edge of the road space
• Take the lane – If there is not enough space for a vehicle to overtake you safely‚ or you are approaching a side street, ride in the middle of the lane to prevent vehicles passing you in that lane and turning across you. Try to communicate with any driver behind you with a quick look to let them know you know they are there and then let them pass when it is safe to do so.

You should also make sure that your bike is safe and worthy by conducting an A,B,C check:

To keep up to date with the latest information on cycling in Ealing during this time, visit www.ealing.gov.uk/cycling