with other conditions that limit their mobility are excluded from this. Data from Public Health England suggests, more than 50% of those with a learning disability are either overweight or obese. Causes are multifactorial.
https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/documents/Health_inequalities_Overweight_obesity_underweight.pdf
Carer Poverty is also a fact - due to inability to work due to caring responsibilities and due to poor mental and physical health in #Carers .
#SocialIsolation and #SocialExclusion are also well known factors. Both exacerbated by COVID.
https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/news/carers-uk-reacts-to-latest-joseph-rowntree-report-on-poverty
Since taking up🚲 enthusiastically, I have missed not being able to go out with our learning disabled son together on a physical activity. He enjoys the outdoors but struggles with crowds and balance. Cycling could be the best option for many like him. https://twitter.com/DrGirishPsych/status/1274628561681502209?s=20
That got me thinking 🤔🤔

In the UK, if you qualify for it - you can get a 🚗 on a @Motability. However, you can't get an #inclusivebicycle! Now imagine a post COVID new normal where @BorisJohnson launches a scheme allowing purchase of an inclusive bicycle on a similar scheme 🤔
Immediate advantages:
1. ⬆️mental/physical health for those with learning disabilities and their #Carers
2. ⬇️levels of obesity (and its consequences)
3. ⬇️pollution levels (🚗 journeys replaced by🚲 journeys)
4. ⬇️transmission rate of COVID19 with all the attendant benefits
5. ⬆️dealer distribution with more shops selling inclusive 🚲 across the country
6. ⬆️investment in improving the safety, quality and agility of inclusive 🚲
There is already a vibrant community of those who promote @cycling4_all in every major town. Similar to @SheffPedalReady,
they can be funded to run training courses with a loan etrike akin to @cycleboost.
Of course, there will be a cry from motorists. However, when we 👀most 🚗with 1 driver occupying the space of 4 - I think it is unfair to blame an inclusive trike for using less fuel/space.
What needs to happen next?
Perhaps a wider discussion around being truly inclusive when it comes to 🚲? We wouldn't deny someone access to something based on any discriminatory feature. Why should we deny those with a #disability and their #carers access to activity that
improves #publichealth, ⬇️multimorbidity, ⬆️wellbeing, ⬇️ #COVID19 transmission and promotes industry, #innovation and #investment.
I can't see any disadvantages. Can you?
Look forward to seeing more of the #mobility vehicles below becoming mainstream.
You can follow @DrGirishPsych.
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