Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte rides a bicycle; know why those in their 50s should also undertake this physical activity

The PM of Netherlands, Mark Rutte, on a bicycle, riding like an ordinary citizen!

Can our @PMOIndia & all the hon. MPs do the same here? pic.twitter.com/ecaL2hjJnT

— SandeepVarma (@sandeepvarma15) May 9, 2023

This is, however, not the first that Rutte has been seen cycling. Rutte, who has also presented a bicycle to Narendra Modi, is often spotted commuting on a cycle in the Dutch country, which is known for its cycling tradition, and as such, known as a ‘cycling nation’.

“I didn’t cycle a lot for 10 years. But for the past two years, I’ve had my own bike again and, when the weather allows, I travel into the office that way,” he told the World Economic Forum in 2019.

On the incredible tradition, Rutte added, “The Dutch love cycling because we are a small country. When we have to get from A to B, of course, taking a car, yes, is an option, but you have congestion plus the environmental impact. From the old days, almost from the late 19th century, we’re used to taking a bicycle.”

 

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A post shared by Mark Rutte (@minpres)

He added, “The whole system is nudging people to make use of this very healthy alternative.”

Agreeing with the politician, experts suggest it is a good idea to ride a bicycle in your 50s and 60s, not just for the environment but for the health, too.

Stressing that bicycling is one of the best exercises for cardiac fitness, Dr Subhendu Mohanty, interventional cardiologist, Sharda Hospital, Noida, said that it is good for all ages, not just the 50s-60s.

Concurred neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar and said that cycling is “less strenuous on the heart as well as the knees”. “Cycling is better (as compared to running) for people in 50s and 60s, especially if they have knee joint pain, or osteoarthritis of knees. Cycling helps exercise the hamstrings and quadriceps, which can further help slow down the degeneration of knee cartilage and reduce the risk of osteoarthritis,” he told indianexpress.com.

According to Dr Kumar, even a runner can cycle two days a week to reduce the risk of knee or ankle injury that can occur with running on daily basis. “Cycling is associated with multiple health-related benefits such as weight loss, lesser risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart attack,” said Dr Kumar.

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