Reinventing the wheel
Throughout the pandemic the bicycle has reminded everyone of its value. We speak to workers who’ve found unique ways to use their bikes to support themselves and their communities…
The nurse
“I got back into cycling when Covid-19 first hit and I realised that after every shift in A&E, when I had been in contact with a lot of Covid-19 patients, I could potentially infect a lot of people sharing the tube with me,” says Mónica Reus Boccherini, 28, from London. “Cycling eliminated that risk of infection.”
During the pandemic outbreak Monica has been working at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, in the Emergency Department. A little extra push to commute by bike came from Cycling UK, who was offering free membership to key workers.
“I saw the offer via my hospital’s newsletter. I was quite scared of hopping on a bike in London but along with the membership it also offered tips, legal support and advice, and that made it much easier. Obviously, my physical wellbeing improved but my mental health felt fantastic while riding the bike too. It was as if we were not in lockdown while I was on it.”
Monica found commuting by bike enabled her to manage the stress of working on the frontline. “I could ‘disconnect’ after a shift while I was on my bike and
