How Cycling Can Help the Disabled Stay Mobile

For many disabled people, biking can be easier than walking because it lacks some of the joint stress associated with taking steps, but when transit infrastructure is only built for the able-bodied, disabled commuters find it difficult to take advantage of their biking abilities. "Part of the problem is that most urban infrastructure is built by able-bodied engineers, who may not realise that bollards, speed bumps, kerbs and steps can be insurmountable for disabled cyclists," Laura Laker reports for The Guardian.

Cambridge demonstrates what is possible for this community, there, 26% of disabled commuters ride a bike, a huge percentage considering this number is .2% in some less cycling-friendly cities.

"In the context of an ageing global population, mobility experts are increasingly seeing cycling as a way to help people with disabilities move around cities independently," Laker reports. The health benefits of biking could have huge implications for people with disabilities. "Active travel can tackle inactivity, isolation, mental health issues and reliance on expensive private transportation such as taxis; yet disabled people are more likely to be inactive than non-disabled people (37.8% in Britain compared with 18.2%, according to Public Health England)," Laker writes.