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. 

“I've got several ways of getting around, but the most versatile and the one I use the most is a Brompton folding bike. I've not done much to adapt it, other than put a couple of pipe clips on the seat post so I can clip my crutches on. 

The reason the Brompton works brilliantly because you can put the saddle down so low I can scoot around, like a balance bike! It doubles up as a useful way of getting around even for micro journeys - depending on how big a venue is, I might scoot gently through grounds, walkways or into a building with the Brompton. I can take it on the train easily - there are no restrictions for a folding bike, and half the time I don’t even need to fold it if it’s quiet.

Sometimes I use the hand cycle bike, for that I just need to book on the Passenger Assist app, and someone will come along with a ramp to so I can ride right onto the train. The app works really well for me on the Chiltern line, although it can vary between the rail companies. 

I also use buses, but sometimes the driver says the Brompton needs to be in a bag, but then the tiny wheels that let you push it round when folded up don’t work and I can’t lift it. I explained this to them, and I have a letter I can show the driver about it not being in a bag. 

I lived in Germany for a year with work, and this was when I really started using a bike as a means for getting around. When I came back to the UK and got a car again it struck me how difficult it is: getting in and out of, the sitting for a long time really brought on phantom pains, whereas sitting on a bike saddle doesn't cause the same problem, but most of all I never ever have to bother with parking again, which even with a blue badge can be a pain. 

I've got a cargo trike for shopping – I needed to get a trike as it very stable and it’s incredibly important I never fall on my hip. I can travel around with my stepdaughter and carry her, and then I started using that for pretty much anything where I needed to carry anything big - shopping, picking up deliveries, all sorts of things.

A car, combined with a wheelchair, is a reasonable solution for a lot of people in a similar situation to me, but I found using the bike meant I get closer to where I needed to be - even with a blue badge.

Another big benefit is that I just get exercise naturally. It does help with sleeping, and it reduces stress. I know if I haven't cycled for a couple of days, I'm quite grumpy.”