On the back of what was no doubt a cash-heavy research project, a press release landed in the BM inbox from the big-wigs at the University of York declaring: car fumes are bad for you.

“Research suggests that using off-road cycle routes in York significantly reduces cyclists’ exposure to air pollution compared with on-road cycle lanes,” screams the top line.

“Scientists from the University of York’s environment department, working in collaboration with City of York Council, monitored exposure to the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on both on and off-road cycle routes in the city over a two-month period.”

The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring, found the total dose of NO2 was reduced by seven to 35 per cent when cycling on off-road routes in York. No cars = less pollution. Who’da thunk it?

“Our study aimed to develop and apply a simple monitoring method that could be routinely used by transport and air quality planners in local authorities to estimate the difference in exposure of cyclists to NO2 between on-road and off-road routes,” said the university’s Tom Bean.

“Other local authorities could readily conduct similar studies by extending their existing diffusion tube networks.” So expect to see similar ground-breaking research coming to a town near you.

We know why we hit the trails. To get away from it all, enjoy this green and pleasant land and thrash the bike about in the process. Turns out it’s better for you than sitting behind a HGV, too.

As if we hadn’t guessed.