Have you noticed the air is fresher in Eastbourne?

Like most challenges, the current Covid-19 crisis, brings opportunities.

The local streets and South Downs are wonderfully quiet and walking or cycling, for daily exercise, feels safer and more pleasant than usual.

Plus getting exercise is important in improving fitness and building resilience to infection.

I expect many readers have noticed that there is less pollution and the air is fresher, and that it is a wonderful time to explore whilst keeping your distance from others.

The quieter roads are ideal for building confidence in cycling for both children and adults.

But being able to travel by foot or bike should not end with the current crisis.

It should be something that is part of everyone’s daily life.

Reducing our reliance on cars, is part of the Eastbourne Local Plan and supports a Carbon Neutral 2030.

It will keep us fitter and healthier and should in future years, reduce pressure on the NHS.

With a bit of thought and reflection we can all do something to make sure the ‘normal’ we return to, after the end of this crisis, is better than the ‘normal’ we left behind a month ago.

So when this is over, try replacing a few car journeys for ones on foot or bike.