Local Voices
Read the stories of Oxfordshire residents who make bikes, buses, walking or wheeling a part of their everyday lives.
Cherie
“Since making the change to using a bike, I’ve actually found a new hobby. We’ve taken our bikes to the Cotswolds and to Wales, for cycling holidays. My cardiovascular health is better; I don’t really pant at all any more going up that hill. And my mental health is better. I didn’t realise how big an impact it was going to have on me. I fell in love with the feeling of cycling almost immediately. The sense of freedom is amazing.”
Kevin
Kevin lives in Bicester, is a former Siemens engineer, and has had a through-hip amputation meaning one leg is no longer there. He uses a Brompton, a hand pedal bike and a cargo trike to get around in combination with the train, and crutches or prothesis. Now retired, he visits Oxford a couple of times a week at a range of times.
Felicity
Felicity bought an electric folding bike through the Cycle to Work scheme. She’s able to take it on the bus so that she can commute to work from outside Abingdon part by bus and part by cycle. She says her new commute is cheaper, more flexible and makes her feel more connected to people. She also loves that she can get in her exercise on the way to work instead of spending time and money on a trip to the gym.
Gordon
“I just love the speed of [riding an e-bike]. Living in Headington, to walk to work on the Woodstock Road would be an hour; the bus would be at least an hour; and driving - the way traffic is - was an hour. But on the e-bike, I’m there in less than 15 minutes. And it’s the same going home.”
Richard
“You are a lot more integrated in your neighbourhood commuting this way. I have random conversations with people on my journey; when I stop at the lights on my bike, or when I’m on the train. I now recognise people I commute with and see friends on the street. For me, it’s always nice to talk to people.”
Philip and CyclAbility
Philip attended CyclAbility as part of his rehabilitation after a stroke. He now cycles independently on roads near his home in Oxfordshire. He says the sessions built his confidence as well as his core strength and road sense, and have also brought him freedom: “I don’t feel trapped in the village”. His partner Liz adds that CyclAbility has given him the chance to do something he’s always loved doing.
Katherine
Katherine, a participant in the Oxford Car Free Challenge, found the adult cycle training she received through the project very useful. And for journeys in and out of town, she usually uses the bus. During the three-week Challenge, Katherine was surprised to discover how little she missed using her car. She says she is now thinking hard about the options when it needs to be replaced, at which point she will consider using a car club instead. With the money she'd save, she thinks she might purchase a Brompton bike, which would help her in reaching her nearest car club car.
Catherine
“My advice is to do some planning by talking to someone who cycles a similar route to you; maybe even go out with them and check any junctions you’re unsure of. Make sure your bike has been serviced. Finally, don’t expect to do it all in one go if you’re worried about your fitness. Take it gradually, doing it once or twice a week, and build up.”
Evin
“Cycling helps with my mood, helps me relax between visits and I no longer get stuck in traffic. I’m more active too. Rushing from one appointment to the other in the car means you just don’t get the breathing time. Now I can appreciate the fresh air, the activity. Research shows that people who cycle to work are less likely to use antidepressants; and as someone working in mental health services I know how important it is to look after your mental health.”
Sarah
“I used to drive to other hospitals - in Milton Keynes and Aylesbury - but I got fed up sitting in the car and found I never had any time to do any exercise. I had to pay for parking and often struggled to find a parking space. I now get an hour’s exercise every day and a bit of headspace.”
Laura and St Ebbes School
“I cycle from Donnington Bridge to St Ebbes; it’s about a mile and a half each way. On my way, I pick up a few other children and we cycle together. There was a time last summer when I was cycling with nine children! We go along the cycle lane, over the crossing and then the rest of the way on the quieter roads. I think people just need free training, once a week, in every single park, wherever they are. That would make a huge change.”
Florence Park Midwives
The Florence Park Midwives lease an e-bike from Bainton Bikes that has proved so popular with their staff that they’ve created a nickname for her: Betty. Midwives can have quite a bit of of equipment to carry - scales for weighing the baby, lancets, plasters and tubes for the heel prick tests. But with two panniers and a custom basket, Betty is up to the task and helps the midwives to offer a truly door-to-door service anywhere in East Oxford. All while injecting a bit of exercise and efficiency into a busy and sometimes demanding role.