The Unexpected Cycling Enthusiast

The unexpected cycling enthusiastIf you’d told me 5 years ago that I would end up cycling every day, I would have told you there was no chance. There was a family holiday to Centre Parcs where I did a bit of gentle cycling, and I had always been a fan of a spinning class at the gym but every day cycling? On roads? And even when it rained? Absolutely not. But now- living in Worcester where most of my journeys are less than 5 miles- I cycle every day and it’s totally changed my life.For me, I only got my bike out because it felt like a necessity. Back in Summer 2020, I was living and working in South London as a primary school teacher and we were deep into the first lockdown. My usual options of catching the train or bus now felt like unnecessary risks, so I very, very reluctantly got my bike out of the shed. It was only a half an hour cycle, and I mostly travelled through Burgess Park and down Peckham High street which- at this point- was shut to cars. This meant that my commute was quiet, there were designated cycle routes, and it was summer and a bit of sunshine always helps. During that very surreal summer term of 2020, I happily cycled to and from work every day and I was a little ashamed that I hadn’t thought to try it sooner.We left London for Worcester not long after, and we quickly fell into the habit of using a car for all journeys. I didn’t even feel that we had many other options. Our eldest son was now a pre-schooler so the days of strapping both children into a double buggy and walking for miles were gone; bus services in Worcester were not brilliant; and the children were getting too big to strap into a trailer on the back of a bike. And then, when our eldest son was allocated his school place, my vision of the school run was shattered. I had always imagined we would walk or scoot to our nearest primary school but the nearest school was over subscribed and he was given a place at a school a couple of miles away.The reality of driving less than 3 miles for every pick up and drop off felt like madness. It felt like such a terrible option from an environmental and health perspective, why did so many of us accept this as our daily reality?My husband had an idea- an e-cargo bike. However, I wasn’t keen. The roads are so dangerous! It would be heavy and difficult to cycle! Too cold in Winter! It arrived in December and I was convinced I would never be able to cycle it…but with practice (I admit to dropping the bike with the children in it a few times) and a decent amount of encouragement from Rob, I was doing the school runs and the big shop on the cargo before very long.And. It. Changed. My. Life.When you travel around your city by bike SO many things are SO much better. Yes, it was a better option for the environment, and for my physical health. But the connection with my local area was the real benefit. The experience of nature and green spaces is enhanced; you notice so much more about places along your route; and you meet so many people! It became unusual to have a journey without meeting someone to chat to, and that’s such a lovely part of our day. I noticed that the children also had a much better understanding of the geography of our city, and how different places were connected.It’s not all been easy going: the cycling infrastructure in Worcester is not good enough. There aren’t enough safe routes and unfortunately I am often targeted by abuse by (often male) drivers for cycling on the road. It’s really unpleasant and I can see how it would be a barrier to others.Even with the challenges, it’s still a wonderful skill to have developed. We’ve started to run Bike Buses and other cycling sessions, which are really good opportunities to cycle as part of a big group with lots of supportive faces. Please do come along!Thank you for readingKatiex