Hospital cycle clinic

A cycle clinic at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital and supported by the Health Improvement Commission will take place during Alternative Transport Week.

It is hoped that the lunchtime event will encourage more staff and users to the site to consider cycling as a means of getting around the island and to help ease pressure on parking at the hospital. In the lead up to the Alternative Transport Week, another free cycle clinic was held in town supported by Ian Browns Cycle Shop and Adventure Cycles.

The idea of the clinic is to provide an opportunity for people to get a basic check on their bike, such as checking brakes, gears, or oiling the chain. Some bikes may require a subsequent full service, other bikes may have just sat around in a shed for too long and need some basic maintenance which can be done relatively quickly and without specific parts required.

“Our aim at the Commission is to get more people, being more active, more often with all the obvious benefits that that brings,” said Active Travel Officer Alex Costen.

“Cycling is a relatively low cost and accessible way of travelling around the island, with the benefit of improving physical and mental health and well-being, but also helping to reduce traffic on our roads.

“There are lots of activities happening as part of ATW and now we are almost into the summer months, we hope the clinic will appeal to those who regularly commute by bike, but also those who may not have been on their bike for a while and know it needs a quick check to make sure it is safe and roadworthy.”

The free cycle clinic run by Adventure Cycles and open to the general public as well as staff, will take place at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital  on Friday 19 th May between 12 noon and 2pm. The cycle checks will be done on a first come first served basis.

Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink said: “We are delighted to see this initiative to help encourage more people onto their bikes. Alongside all the wellbeing benefits, cycling can help to protect you from serious diseases such as stroke, heart attack, some cancers, depression, diabetes, obesity and arthritis.

“Riding a bike is healthy, fun and a low-impact form of exercise for all ages and it is easy to fit into your daily routine by riding to the shops, school or work. We are lucky in Guernsey that, due to the size of the island, most journeys are relatively short and we have a large number of quiet lanes and stunningly scenic parts of our island we can enjoy by bike.”