There is no doubt the devastation the Coronavirus epidemic has caused thousands of families, not only in the UK but all over the world.

Every day we read about one devastated family after another.

And the thousands of medical professionals who have put their lives at risk every day to look after those in desperate need; the heart break for some of these families to deal with in the future is, put simply, unimaginable.

My sincere condolences to all the families and friends who have been left to cope with a different future to what they had planned.

After the pandemic has ended, and it will end, when the Coronavirus disease is under control, we will resume our lives, but I hope that the lives that were lost will continue to save lives into the future through changes to the way we live.

There have been many column inches on how air quality has been dramatically improved with less vehicles driving around, congestion has disappeared, and people have taken to cycle and walk more.

Cycling and walking as an alternative to driving a car, in particular for short journeys into and out of our town centres is the biggest single thing we can do to influence climate change and improve air quality, I hope many of those people who have ventured on a bike for the first time in years during lockdown will have enjoyed the experience so much they will want to carry on cycling.

Over 60% of vehicle journeys are under 1-mile, if more local people cycled or walked into and out of their town centres, if only once a week, the good quality clean air that we are all enjoying, will stay.

Ditch the car and cycle for short journeys, 2 miles on a bicycle takes 10 minutes, 1 mile walking takes 20 minutes. Start off with once a week and build the activity into your daily routine.

The fact is we need to reduce our car use to impact on climate change, reduce congestion and improve air quality, we have the ability to do this and if we can, we should.

FOOTSTEP FRIDAY and CYCLE SATURDAY are two initiatives to help people ditch the car on a Friday and Saturday.

Footstep on a Friday and Cycle on a Saturday into your town or village centre, instead of driving and do your bit too improve air quality and impact on climate change.

If every resident in the borough tries active travel 1 or 2 days a week, they will see how much fun it is, will be encouraged to do more; and being more active gives us a better quality of life.

I can't hide the enjoyment I have felt at seeing lots of cyclists, families, grandparents, adapted bikes and kids, all out, getting their exercise and having fun during lockdown.

Without all the vehicles it feels safe to cycle, after lockdown we need to continue cycling and walking to reduce the amount of traffic on our roads.

I hope the government are listening and now would be a good time to review the £29 billion investment into new roads, invest and fix the wholly inadequate, disconnected traffic free cycling infrastructure, create priority at road junctions and roundabouts for cyclists and pedestrians with zebra crossings at every junction and traffic free cycle routes to enable children to cycle to school.

One hundred children cycling to school every day over 25 weeks equal a reduction of 50,000 vehicle journeys.

The government need to commit significantly more money to cycling and walking than the £70m pa proposed in the last budget if they want people to ditch the car.

We need help from our MP's, to fight hard with central government for investment into traffic free cycle routes to town centres, schools and leisure facilities.

Please write to your MP today and your ward councillor to ask for their help.

The more community support there is for cycling and walking on traffic free routes the more chance of investment from government.

So, remember, next Friday ditch the car 'FOOTSTEP FRIDAY' into the town or village and 'CYCLE SATURDAY'.

Instead of relying on the car for short journeys, make a conscious effort to walk on Fridays, and cycle on Saturdays every week.

And the best bit for me about lockdown was seeing a hedgehog scuttle across the road, I have only ever seen a squashed one, much to my surprise hedgehogs are not round.

Don't forget, FOOTSTEP FRIDAY, CYCLE SATURDAY to continue to improve air quality, reduce congestion be more active and fit.

Let me know more about your active travel journey and what would help you cycle and walk more.

CLLR SUZIE AKERS SMITH

[email protected]