Introduction

This blog is intended as a means to document my experiences cycling on the roads of the UK. I have had bad experiences, but these are far outweighed by the good experiences, the benefits to my own health, wealth & happiness I get from cycling. I want to encourage more people to cycle, to prevent it from being seen as something done only by the very young, by those who can't afford cars, or by environmental activists.
Cycling is a very safe mode of transport. It is also very often quicker than driving in towns and cities, more convenient than public transport and can cost next to nothing. However, cycling could be safer. It could be more convenient. It could be less intimidating and it could be more widespread.

The culture in the UK is very car-centric, often at the detriment of our health, our wallets and our time. I don't think for a second that cars are a bad thing. They give us huge amounts of freedom, enable us to take long journeys easily, reach places we wouldn't be able to get to by other means. Like all good things, they should be enjoyed in moderation. Often people don't even consider other options in their most common journey; commuting. The average distance commuted in the UK is 8.5 miles. Now for many, this is an unreasonable distance to cycle. However, around 50% of all workers commute less than 5km (3.2 miles). This is an easy cycle commute, but many people simply do not see it as an option. This could be due to many reasons; perceived risk of cycling, ease of car-commuting or lack of facilities at work end. However, I believe the main reason is simply the culture. People are expected to drive. Driving is somehow seen as a symbol of success, of maturity, of wealth. If this culture can be changed, cycling could really take off.