Cycling is convenient
What could be better than a mode of transport which can get you from A to B as quickly or slowly as you like at whatever time you choose to travel, while keeping you fit and helping you get a bit of fresh air at the same time?
Cycling gives you a sense of freedom and unlike travelling by car you don’t get stuck in traffic jams so journey times are more consistent.
There’s no more waiting around for the bus to turn up, no time spent searching for change for the parking metre, and in the winter you can forget standing in the cold with a can of de-icer to name but a few of the benefits.
| Gail Mitchell lives in Poet’s Corner with her husband and two children aged 11 and 13. |
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“I often cycle to the Co-op on Prettygate to get a few bits of shopping and I sometimes cycle to the library or into town with the children because it gets them outside doing a bit of exercise and it’s more fun than clambering into a car. “Particularly when the children were younger I really relied on my bike, because I needed to get back at the right time to get them from school. It was great because I could guarantee I would be back in time rather than having to wait around for a bus. “Cycling is great as it gives the children some independence and means they don’t always have to rely on us to take them everywhere in the car.” |
"I use my bike three or four days in an average week as I cycle to work at Cornerstone in the town centre. It’s the quickest way to get into town – much quicker than catching a bus or walking and cheaper than having to pay for parking.
| Anna Chernova lives in Wivenhoe and works at the University of Essex. Her family enjoy the ease and convenience cycling offers. |
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“This is the fourth year I have been cycling to work every day and it t akes me just 12 minutes to get there if I cycle gently. It means I don’t have to pay to park and it’s so much more convenient – you don’t have to find a space, have the right money and queue for a pay machine. I also get to cycle almost to my office door and the exercise in the morning helps me to wake up and get ready for the day.
“My elder daughter is 15 and goes to lots of activities in the village and at the University in her spare time. She usually cycles there and to her friend’s houses. It gives her some freedom as she doesn’t have to rely on getting lifts everywhere. She’s involved in the local pantomime at the moment and so we have bought her lights and reflective gear so she is safe to cycle as the evenings get darker. We sometimes cycle in to town together to go shopping and park our bikes at the bottom of Castle Park or push them through the park and leave them near to Williams and Griffin. “My youngest daughter, who is seven, started cycling when she was just four and started school. First I used to take her there on my bike and then continue to work. When she was about five she started riding her own bike with stabilisers. Over time she learnt to ride without stabilisers and from this year she has been cycling on the road with me. It has taken a while for her confidence to build but she is now really good on her bike.” |
