It started when my father launched me across the back garden and I pedalled frantically until crashing into the fence at the far end. I was three years old and since then I have considered myself a cyclist.
These days I still cycle regularly; mainly to do the shopping or for work but I do have plans for more extended journeys one day. Cycling is good for the exercise and also because it is very social. On my bicycle I am forever meeting friends and neighbours and stopping for chats to catch up. But for now, let’s talk about the work side of things.
A bicycle makes a lot of sense in a built-up environment. It provides fast reliable transport that is free to use while simultaneously being healthy. One of the things I love about cycling is that I can be sure how long any work journey will take. I can’t be so sure in a car because of what the traffic will be like or where I will find a parking space. Even buses are a bit random by comparison.
I use my bicycle for visiting charges in Edinburgh that are within about 5 miles travel. I don’t need to carry much so a bicycle is perfect and there are great cycle lanes around North Edinburgh. This means I am not having to compete with cars and lorries for road space, significantly adding to my safety.
Being part of the Net Zero Team, I am trying to practice what I preach, so turning up to meetings on a bicycle helps demonstrate how we can weave more sustainable travel into our working lives.
But what about the weather?
There’s a saying that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. That’s usually correct. Warm gloves, a hat and waterproofs will do for nearly all journeys and if it really is that bad, take the bus instead. I have stopped cycling when it is dark and raining because drivers may struggle to see cyclists in those conditions, similarly high winds can be problematic. Other than that, any weather is cycling weather.
What bicycle is suitable for riding for work
Any style of bicycle is suitable for riding for work. It needs to fit you correctly, have functioning brakes, an oiled chain and tyres that are pumped up. Mudguards are a useful bonus as they will stop your back from getting sprayed with mud and rain when the roads are wet. When it is dark or poor light conditions, lights are essential.
If you wish to ride further than about 5 miles, have too many hills or are worried that your fitness isn’t up to scratch, an electric bicycle is an excellent option. It is like riding gently downhill all day.
Security
Make your bicycle hard to steal. Get a U lock and use it whenever you are out and about. Park your bicycle where there are plenty of people about and if in doubt, take a quick photo on your phone. If the worse happens the photo will show your insurance company that the bicycle was locked securely. Make a note of the frame number and register the bicycle with The National Cycle Database | BikeRegister
Planning your journey
I mentioned that there are good cycle paths where I live. Not all places are so fortunate. However, it is always possible to plan a journey to take advantage of quiet streets, minimising the time you might spend on busy roads. Have a look at Journey planner | Cycling UK to plan anything from a nip around the corner onwards.
Cycling confidence
Many people worry about cycling. They may not have cycled for a long time or feel that bicycles and traffic are a poor combination. If you wish to gain confidence, there may be cycle classes in your local area. It is a bit of a mixed picture but googling ‘cycle classes near me’ should indicate what’s locally available or try looking on this link.
Cycling UK have some really helpful online resources to help people get cycling at this link and Sustrans also have plenty of useful online materials.
Daniel Prince, Clean Energy Advisor
