Why I Cycle To Work: Rebecca Mews

The main thing about cycling to work for me is that I enjoy the extra time in bed in the mornings!

My cycle in to work takes 11–12 minutes - compared to either a 40 minute walk in or bus journey. Coming home is uphill, so not only do I get a work out and challenge at the end of the day, again I get home a lot quicker than by foot or car - in around 17 minutes.

Riding to work in rush hour wakes me up and makes me more mentally alert - as you need to be on the ball and aware of your surroundings. I feel clear headed when I arrive at work. It’s also very liberating whizzing past the stand-still traffic, knowing I’m saving time and getting a workout at the same time. It’s a big win - win situation.

My commute would be better if there were less cars on the road. M commute is much more enjoyable (and I feel safer) when it’s the school holidays or I’m cycling outside of rush-hour traffic. There are occasions during busy periods where there are no cycle lanes and I have no choice but to sit alongside cars in traffic - that’s annoying. Relating to this generally speaking, more cycle lanes would really help.

Encouraging cycling to work means healthier employees - both mentally and physically. There is an abundance of statistics out there that highlight the physical health benefits of cycling. Mentally too, employees arrive at work with fresh air in their lungs and a feeling of accomplishment and boosted self-esteem. Surely that’s going to have a positive influence on their performance at work.