On Your Bike, Says Twibber, and See a “New” London

I live in London and know several people, who have suffered from bad cases of Covid-19. One colleague is in hospital, fighting for his life, though the latest news is that he may be back on the mend.

Others had the virus and got over it or didn’t feel much or no more than a slight discomfort for a day or two. We are resigned to lock down and my work life has been reduced to digital meetings and solemn work at my desk.

BUT: Despite all the tragic news from the hospital front, I do love my daily  bike rides to the centre of London. In the UK, you are allowed to exercise once a day, so long as you keep your distance. Piccadilly Circus in the sunshine with hardly a soul in sight; Trafalgar Square without crowds; Oxford Street deserted.

In fact, if there is one good thing about this history-shaping event, it’s the clean air, the greatly reduced traffic and the minimal traffic noise around you, with no overhead planes in sight. Only a few months ago, that’s what many of the world’s young people were demonstrating for. What I enjoy most at the moment is encountering other bike riders during my lonely rides, who probably feel the same and who are in awe of the city’s silence. Sometimes, our eyes lock while passing: even if they wear a mask, you can see the smile in their eyes and you know: there’s a silver lining in every crisis!