Cycling in lockdown

Here's an interesting state of affairs. The Prime Minister of the UK, Boris Johnson is feeling some heat at the moment. Not for his maladroit handing of the pandemic or Brexit, but because he decided to go for a bike ride at the weekend.

On the face of it this is because he did so at some distance from his home - seven miles to be exact - in the Olympic Park in East London. This at a time when COVID-19 is racing through Britain and we are being urged to stay at home to limit contacts with others.

There are a few exceptions to this guidance, one of which is exercise, which you are permitted to take once a day. Of course, being Britain, it's never that simple. Guidelines talk about staying local and the government's definition of this is 'your village, town or part of a city where you live' according to British Cycling.

The issue for many cyclists is that they probably have a more expanded view of 'local' than that. Firstly, you can get quite a long way in a relatively short amount of time on a bike - it's one of the delights of cycling. You can also take yourself away to quieter country lanes where there is less pollution, fewer irate drivers  up your backside, and fewer people to bump into generally. It's therefore healthier, which is sort of the point of exercise.

But, again, nothing is that straightforward in Britain. Johnson's outing on his bike creates a problem for the rightwing, bike-hating, car-worshipping media of this country. They love Johnson's Brexity ways and his colourful turn of phrase, but can't he just ditch the bike?

To be fair to Johnson, who I have little time for, he has fought the corner for cyclists. He has ridden a bike in London for years, despite the ridicule that comes with it. He appointed a cycling Tsar to improve cycling infrastructure in the capital. His government has spoken of the importance of active travel, including cycling, since the pandemic, and has backed up this talk with funds.

However, his cheerleaders in the press - Hitchens, Littlejohn, Clarkson, Coren, the usual suspects - are casual in their abuse of people on bikes. The grumpy old men (it's always men) 'other' cyclists, relying on stereotypes about Lycra, midlife crises, more money than sense, highway code avoidance, and non-Road Tax payment (yes, I know it doesn't exist).

I've never quite understood the depth of hatred focused on bikes by some people. For a certain segment of society there is nothing more infuriating than a fitter middled-aged man (as they usually are) on a bike passing a fatter middle-aged man in a car. It's not even ridicule, which wouldn't bother me. I don't care that you think I look stupid in a contour hugging outfit. Laugh your teeth out - I'm off for a ride.

The abuse of the commentariat seems to imply that anyone on a bike is a slightly left of centre/liberal type a la Jon Snow or Jeremy Vine. Either that or a self-centred, arrogant, and abusive bell-end who things rules don't apply to them. Cycling is a shibboleth - a sign that cyclists are different from everyone else.

Or maybe right wingers just can't comprehend how anyone who has the wherewithal wouldn't just drive everywhere. Margaret Thatcher thought anyone who used public transport was a loser - similar mindset. 

There's an interesting comparison to be made here with another sport - one of the few that you can still do during lockdown. And that's angling. While we're reaching for stereotypes, I'd hazard a guess that the typical fisherman (they're mostly men, right?) is a working class, conservative with a small 'c', car driver. I'd also hazard a guess that a reason angling is still allowed is because it's a relatively easy sop to the kind of working class votes that Tories are anxious to keep in former Red Wall seats for example.

But here's a thing. I've got no beef with anglers, but my guess is that most of them don't live within walking distance of a fishing hole, so they will probably drive there, which when it comes to holier than thou screeching about the iniquities of lockdown, 'drives' some folk up the wall. Will there be outraged columns in the Mail, Times and Telegraph about how anglers are taking the piss (as there inevitably will be about cyclists - they're in the post)? What do you think?

On the issue of 'what's local?' police minister, and former Mayor Johnson sidekick, Kit Malthouse, has apparently okayed rides of 70 miles if you can do it. That's probably a bit more than I'll be doing at this stage in lockdown, but it shows he has an awareness of what a good ride is - he must have learned from his boss. There are plenty of serious cyclists who can manage those sorts of distances, and who can mend punctures and mechanicals, or find their way home if they don't.

It's worth remembering what this is about. Exercise is 'a good thing', particularly cardiovascular exercise. There were concerns during the first lockdown about people delaying contacting doctors over heart attacks and cancer - two of the biggest killers, and ones which we won't be able to wish away with a vaccine. Life has to go on, albeit within new constraints for the moment, and we have to bear in mind longer term health concerns among the population.

It would be a shame if Boris Johnson's ongoing enthusiasm for two-wheeled transport harmed the thing he loves. Think about that on your next Covid-secure pedal, and ride safely.