PEOPLE across West Yorkshire are reaping the benefits of cycling thanks to a pioneering referral scheme which sees patients being prescribed the activity by health care professionals.

The Cycle 4 Health scheme, delivered in partnership with Cycling UK, is part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s £60 million CityConnect programme. Figures from the first year show that at the start of the programme nearly all of the participants reported they did not cycle at all. But six weeks after the course ended, 68 per cent had at least maintained or increased their level of cycling, 70 per cent reported their fitness had increased and each participant was cycling on average more than two hours each week. Participants also reported a 30 per cent, a 33 per cent increase in feeling close to others and a 26 per cent increase in feeling relaxed.