by Joanna Ward, Women in Transport Member and Transport Lead at Elliott Wood
In the last few months, the way that we travel has changed forever and due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, many of you may be thinking about getting on a bike for the first time. These days I am very committed to my bike, but that conversion has only happened over the last decade and I know only too well what it’s like to be a ‘new’ returning bike user and the worries and concerns that can bring. As a transport planner I’m always keen to get people to try more sustainable modes of transport and so I would like to share my real experiences with you, so that you know you are not alone and that this is and can be for you.
There are many great reasons to literally get ‘on your bike’:
1. Save money – cycling is cheap – yes you need a bike and a few accessories, but this can be done to fit anyone’s budget! It’s good to think about how much you spend on petrol or public transport per year and compare that against the cost of a bike; it might save you hundreds of pounds! It’s also worth considering getting a second-hand bike or borrowing one before you buy – there are many local charities and organisations across the country that allow this and have bikes to fit every level of spending power. If you are working also worth considering the ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme.
2. Get fit – I hate going to the gym, so my daily bike rides around the local area are the perfect way to get exercise into my daily routine.
3. Improve well-being – mental health is as important as physical health and exercise is key to keeping both in good shape.
4. Avoid public transport – really important at the moment as we are being advised to avoid where we can. I am a big advocate for public transport but with that less of an option currently, riding a bike can fill that gap for local journeys.
5. Look after the environment – the climate crisis is still happening while everything else is going on and cycling for short journeys (or even slightly longer ones) can mean one less car journey and a lot less pollution.
6. Meet people – riding a bike is a great way to meet new people and there is no end to the opportunities it’ll bring to you. Not all cyclists are friendly that is true! But most are and I have met some great people over the years through my love of riding my bike.
7. Enjoy the fresh air and sense of freedom – cycling has for me been the perfect remedy to spending too much time indoors – I feel so much more aware of the weather and seasons.
8. Save time and be on time – I love that on my bike I know down to the last minute how long it will take me to get to my destination.
9. Discover your local area – I know so much more of my local area just by riding a bike around and, as a committed non-car owner, my bike has given me a sense of freedom and independence that I previously didn’t have.
I know only too well that as well as all the great reasons to get on your bike, you may have worries or concerns and I’m going to try and nip these in the bud here with a few suggestions, please don’t worry ….
Common barriers to cycling:
I would like to cycle but ……
1. I’m terrified of traffic – this is a real and acceptable worry, but you don’t have to be the type of cyclist that weaves in and out of busy traffic. Many places are currently giving over more space to bikes and that’s going to be really helpful. I also recommend getting some professional cycle training this will make you feel so much more confident and that will help you be a better and safer cyclist. It’s worth finding out what is available locally in terms of training and also in terms of routes – it’s highly likely that there will be local routes that might be off road that you simply don’t know about.
2. I don’t want to get hot and sweaty – I am one of those people who cycles in their ‘normal’ everyday clothes and therefore I don’t get changed between journeys. I simply don’t cycle fast enough on my way around town on my bike to get hot and sweaty. I also try and adopt the approach of those everyday cyclists in Denmark and the Netherlands they don’t change at work and I don’t either.
3. I have too much stuff to carry – it is a massive myth that it’s difficult to carry things on your bike, it’s actually much easier to load up your bike with shopping, gym kit, work stuff etc ... than it is to carry it all on foot. The answer is all in finding the panniers or bike basket that work for you.
4. I don’t want to look like a cyclist – you don’t have to; you just have to look like you. Cycling is a great way to express yourself – I feel this mostly on my bright red Brompton bike.
5. My bike is broken, and I don’t know how to fix it – there is a reason why bike shops were kept open as an ‘essential’ shop over the last couple of months. Ask around about good local bike shops, get your bike serviced and if you fancy find a local bike maintenance course and you will never feel stuck again.
6. I’m worried I’ll get lost – this can feel scary to start with, but you will soon find your best routes, you might even find some better ways around your local area. Plus, we all have GPS on our phones these days so there has never been an easier time to get out and explore.
7. I don’t have anywhere to store a bike – really important to think about this when getting a bike and asking yourself – would a folding bike be better? How am I going to secure the bike? (important to get a high-quality bike lock and use it!)
Author: Joanna Ward, Women in Transport Member and Transport Lead at Elliott Wood. Joanna is a sustainable and active travel expert and listed by The Planner as a Women of Influence 2020.
If you have got to the end of this, you might still have loads of questions and that’s OK – the people who ride bikes are generally very friendly and love the idea of getting more people on bikes, so ask around and find you allies and maybe I’ll see you out on a bike soon!
If you are looking for more information and advice about how to get cycling safely, we recommend checking out the great resources on the Sustrans website here. Sustrans also recently launched an interactive map to help key workers find bike offers and services in their area.
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