SheridanSheridan is the Coordinator for the Choose Cycling Project. She lives in Milford, near Belper and has a home office. She travels into Derby at least 3 days a week and to Birmingham or Nottingham several times a month. She is a non-car owner.
Sheridan says "I have been car-free now for over 15 years, it's a normal lifestyle for me now.
I love cycling into Derby - there is a wonderful picturesque cycling route from here which takes me through the back roads and riverside paths of Little Eaton and Darley Abbey. At 45 mins either way, it certainly keeps me fit - I've recently managed to fit into trousers I haven't worn since I was 25!
I'm not a die-hard cyclist though, you'll often find me taking the bus into town when it's a little too cold or wet - it's a brilliant service every 15 minutes and I know most of the friendly drivers by name. National travel is easy too - I cycle to Duffield station, leave my bike safely tied to a cycle stand and, 7 minutes later, am in Derby, with direct connections to many of England's major cities.
There is nothing like the feeling of total freedom and exhilaration of being on a bike. And style. I particularly enjoy cycling into my Belper at a weekend, about 10 mins away by bike. I can tie my bike up outside my favourite cafe, enjoy a coffee and croissant, and then fill my panniers with the week's shopping, before cycling back and enjoying the views along the A6.
My favourite cycling time, though, must be on a warm summers evening, cycling along, the wind blowing your hair, warm air on your skin and smelling those summer smells".
PaulPaul lives just north of Derby and works as an Environmental Education Coordinator with schools in Nottingham. He cycles to work three times a week and car shares on the other two days. When he has his bike he also cycles to all his meetings around Nottingham. He decided to cycle because his job required him to drive so far everyday and he felt that was unsustainable.
“Traffic is so bad it’s just too frustrating to drive in a car, plus to stop and start driving is bad for the car. Not to mention the cost of fuel to drive, which is £4 a day! Now I don’t have to worry about exercising when I get home as I have already done plenty.”
From this experience, Paul feels so much more alert and switched on for the day. He goes on to explain, “I’m getting fitter and I don’t get frustrated in traffic. I also feel I’m doing my bit for climate change and sending out a positive message for other people."
Vicky
Poetry in MotionNever the same, always the same
See a unique public space
Alive with character and/or mundane
Communally chauffeured and in your own lane
Looking around, hearing the sounds
See a time now to reflect
Taking in city, country and towns
Feel like a tourist for the cost of £2
Communal commute to work and school,
Save the planet, save the fuel
All of us sharing a common direction
See acts of human kindness
Taking you to your next connection
Geographically and human relation
Heather
"I've always loved cycling, something to do with the hippy in me who loves the feeling of freedom and the wind flowing through the hair!"
Heather was only an occasional cyclist, however, until she got a job close to home nearly five years ago and decided it wasn't too far to cycle (when the weather was nice.) So she started cycling to and from work to save a bit of money. She was relatively unfit at first and it was a little tiring but as time went on it became a breeze. She even got used to cycling in the cold and rain.
Heather feels amazed at how cozy she can actually feel on a bike if you're wrapped up and she adds that the exercise keeps her warm. She has never felt the need to be a speed cyclist and it's interesting to get a different perspective on things from a bike to that of driving. The sense of fitness and well being is great and so is the natural tan and potential weight loss.
Heather has recently moved and is now cycling 6 miles a day and wouldn't want it any other way. "I use the cycleway and in the summer it is beautifully green and peaceful." The cycle ride gives Heather a good physical and mental kick before work and and can sustain her through a bad day. Over the last few years, Heather's done a cycling trip around Holland which was fantastic. She and her partner are planning one from Prague to Berlin sometime in the near future. Heather says "It really is the way to travel."
Mark
Mark is the Training & Promotions Coordinator for Cycle Derby. Mark cycles everyday to and from work. The journey is about 16 miles both ways. At weekends, he can be found around Melbourne's local woods getting as muddy as possible on his mountain bike.
Mark realised that he no longer needs his car since riding to work is quicker. So he decided to get rid of his car. "Hand on my heart, I have not missed it once." This is from a guy who was driving a Lotus Elise!
Mark has not encountered any particular difficulties, "apart from blind taxi drivers!" He truly feels much more ready to face the day's rigours when he cycles. He says that he sleeps alot better at nights due to the extra miles and saves a fortune on petrol and other car expenses. "I did a quick tally and I roughly save £2500 a year!" Cycling has made him reconsider his values to regards to environment. He recycles more, he watches the energy he uses at home (turns off the lights and appliances that are on standby ) and he has dramatically reduced any carbon emissions.
Debbie Debbie is the Project Support Officer for Derby 7Cs until July 5 and then Sustainability Officer for Suffolk Coastal District Council.
She uses a real mix of transport modes depending on what she needs to achieve that week and what she feels is safe. She walks daily to meetings and on average cycle 3 days a week to and from work and catches the bus twice a week. She sometimes boards or blades into work. At weekends with her young family, they usually walk to the local parks or catch the bus if they are shopping.
Since Debbie was a little girl, she has always tried to reduce her environmental footprint because that's what her mum and her friends did. "I guess I am also fortunate that I grew up in Milton Keynes where there are off road cycle routes all around the city. So I grew up walking and riding on the bike." By the time she was an adult the habit stuck.
Debbie enjoys the challenge of getting to work in the most environmentally friendly way. She feels fitter and more alert on the days when she cycles and she has more creative ideas on the days when she walks. Often she uses the journey in as her quiet time to prepare for the day ahead. "You can't do that stuck in traffic or whizzing around like a mad thing."
Paul
Paul is a freelance artist and cycle trainer working for 'Cycle Derby'. He works in schools doing both cycle training and as a professional artist. He explains, "My art and riding are connected as a lot of my art work is bike related. I've worked for bike magazines and private commissions drawing what I know best and, that's bikes!"
He rides everywhere whenever he can and when he can't , he takes the train instead of buses because his long legs don't fit into seats properly ( wishing that they did!) Paul is a mountain biker and has raced and rode mountain bikes for the last 11 years all over the UK.He particularly loves downhill and duel track riding but Paul also loves his shopping bike, road bike and his clown bike! Although in the past he's had driving lessons but the idea of driving a car has never appealed to him. He strongly believes that there's too much tarmac and cars, plus he gets through traffic whilst laughing at the car drivers! So far he has successfully talked his friends and parents to ride bikes and none of them have looked back. Though they still drive cars but just not as often and would much rather ride. Paul always takes the fun route when he rides to work at any schools in Derby. That way Paul gets his mountain bike 'fixed' and turns up at work smiling and buzzing from the ride. "You wouldn't believe how many ace routes there are around Derby. It beats driving any day and you can't pull a wheelie in a car!"
Being a bit of a hippy ( so his friends tell him), Paul always thought about the impact cars have on the environment and peoples' health. Riding a bike not only keeps Paul fit but also strenghtens his mind. He feels his reactions are faster than most peoples. " I'm alert, stronger, better, faster than I was in my early 20s and so are my friends."
However, Paul admits that it can get hard riding in the pouring rain and wind, getting blue hands from gripping the bars,but the feeling of over coming the obstacles gives him a sense of achievement and feels proud to be a cyclist. There's lots of awesome riding gear to keep him warm or cool, depending on the weather. Speaking of which he loves his riding glasses especially when it keeps pesky flies out of his eyes. Paul knows the importance of helmet, "I'd rather spend £100 on saving my head than CDs or clothes."
"How many car drivers say hello to each other on the road? None is my guess. Now how many cyclists say hello to each other? Ride a bike and find out....."
Barbara Barbara is a part-time receptionist at Wyvern House meeting all kinds of people from the community. She walks to work every day for leisure and fitness purposes. Barbara first decided to cycle and use public transport more in order to lose weight and get fit. She has been walking in for over a year now and one big advantage is that she always gets a good nights sleep!
"From this experience, I feel much fitter than before, I have lost weight and I am more motivated at work. I also meet people along the way and have a chat. There's nothing worse than sitting in a car in traffic and I think I am doing my little bit for the environment. There's only one disadvantage - I am having to replace my shoes quite alot!"
John John is retired and lives in Milford, Derbyshire. He travels using public transport, on average 4 days a week, either for leisure or for work as a volunteer.
He takes the bus into Belper, a mile and a half away. If the weather permits, he really likes to walk in. This gives him exercise along a route almost entirely away from roads. He uses public transport for several reasons, one being environmental considerations.
He says "I get to read which can't be done when driving and there is a general misconception that the car is quicker. Walking nad public transport is also usually less stressful".
Johns says he likes to support the bus services. He particularly likes the way he meets people on his regular routes, and has made and maintained good friendships because of this.
