Cyclescheme 7
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aul Seymour didn't need the financial benefits of Cyclescheme spelling out to him. 'I am a Chartered Accountant and the scheme's administrator where I work,' he says. 'A number of colleagues already had bikes through Cyclescheme, and I could see the financial benefit of acquiring a bike and accessories this way.'
He got a Giant Escape 3 hybrid in February. 'I needed an entry-level bike that I could commute to work on but that I could also use to take the kids on dirt paths, so a hybrid was perfect.' It was his children's interest in cycling, in fact, that prompted his return to two wheels. They wanted to ride more, and an enthusiast cyclist at work, Mark Spratt, mentioned a local bike club, Newport Social Cycling. It sowed a seed. 'My kids are aged 7 and 10, and they wanted to ride further than the bottom of our street. To get them out and about, my wife and I needed bikes too. Cycling as a family, we could then take advantage of the local cycle paths on weekends.' As well as being a leisure activity that the whole family could share, starting cycling again has made Paul fitter. 'At 51, I needed more exercise,' he acknowledges. 'I started riding to work once a week and worked up to daily, which I have been doing since April. My initial goal was to ride the hills en route without stopping, then to reduce the time travelling. It's a great workout for heart and lungs.' Paul's commute is around five miles each way by bike, shorter than it would be by car because he doesn't have to take a roundabout route to avoid traffic jams near the motorway. On a bike, he bypasses these; he's able to take advantage of more direct cycle routes. He reckons it takes him hardly any longer to get to work than it did by car.
Fact file
Name: Paul Seymour Lives: Newport Occupation: Chartered Accountant Commute: One short sharp hill, then level or downhill on main roads for 2.5 miles, then another 2.5 miles on cycle paths. Same route home, except it's more uphill. Frequency: Daily Cyclescheme bike: Giant Escape 3 hybrid Why I started cycle commuting: To take our kids out and about, my wife and I needed bikes ourselves.
'The cycle routes are a mixture of combined cycle/pedestrian paths and white bicycle icons painted on quiet roads. Except when buses disembark, the paths are fairly quiet, just the occasional pedestrian or other cyclist.' The main-road sections of Paul's commute are busier, of course, as they're packed with drivers on their way to work and mums and dads doing the school run. If he could change one aspect of his journey, that would be it: more cycle paths. They would make life easier for him and, more significantly, for his kids. 'A bike path from home to the local schools would enable my children
and others to enjoy the benefits of cycling, and it would cut down on the traffic. The Welsh Assembly announced £5million in April for safe walking and cycling routes to schools, so we will see if any of this money is put to good use locally.' Paul is driving far fewer miles himself now, and he's already noticing the difference in expenditure. 'I just fill the car up once a month and only use it for ferrying kids to various activities,' he says. 'My car insurance is due now and I will be able to reduce the mileage so that premium may reduce.' Like most cycle commuters, Paul would unreservedly recommend this way of getting to work to others. He suggests that anyone who hasn't cycled for a while would benefit from riding with a more experienced cyclist or a local cycling club, to get the hang of trafficked roads. 'But if neither are available, go online: there's lots of advice on how to ride on roads, pass cars, choose routes, and so on. Then just go for it like I did. Keep going, don't give up, and don't try to overachieve. It is supposed to be pleasurable too. It gets easier over time. Now it gives me a great feeling of satisfaction and relaxation.' Paul commutes with a small backpack, which holds his clothes, lunch, tools, and spare innertube; his lock is attached to the bike frame. Of the equipment that he included in his Cyclescheme package, he rates his waterproof jacket most highly. 'My Altura Night Vision Evo kept me warm and dry in the spring, and I've noticed that cars tend to pass closer and quicker when I'm not wearing this very fluorescent jacket. My flashing Knog Blinder rear light also gets me noticed.' www.cyclescheme.co.uk
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