Cycling South Africa pitches for solo cycle training.

Cycling South Africa on Monday (April 27) said it had submitted a document to government in which it recommended that solo cycling for exercise be allowed under Level 4 lockdown regulations.

The cycling body said in the statement that it had submitted its recommendations “in response to the request from National Government to assist in shaping #lockdown regulations relating specifically to cycling and the industry surrounding it.”

“The submission frames the conditions and practical solutions to address the role of bicycle transport and as a form of exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa,” the statement said.

In the detailed submission, the cycling body recommended that “solo cycling” include a group of 2 “from the same premises” and that the cyclists maintain “a radius of 20km from residence”. “Strict social distancing” was to be applied.

In the document dated April 25, the organization recommended cycling for exercise be allowed for “groups no larger than 10” under Level 3 and “social riding” with groups “no larger than 20” be allowed under Level 2 lockdown. The document also recommended that bike parks be allowed to open under Level 3 but that “no groups larger than 5 are allowed to ride
together, with no more than 100 people on the premises/ in the trail park.”

The submission also recommended that essential commuter cycling be allowed under Level 5 lockdown measures and that retail and repair services to the cycling industry be allowed under Level 4 and below.

Commuter cycling was recommended as a “cost effective” alternative to public transport while cycling for exercise “has documented benefits for both physical and mental health. Healthy immune systems will likely reduce the need for those who contract the virus to be hospitalized, reducing the burden on the healthcare system at peak infection period,” the in-depth “Draft Framework for Consultation” read.