Walk or cycle to work, says the Government

[yellowbrickwhorl]

I'm just deciding whether to walk or cycle the 25 miles to and from work each day. Which would be preferable, do you think?

Gales, rain, sleet, snow, ice.
They should give you a boost on your 5 mile journey before you start work.

I understand your original post. You were having a bit of a joke about walking or cycling a long way. Then a load of serious answers.

I work in an office of about 30 people and at least half have a round trip commute of 5 miles or less and most of them drive nearly every day, which is ridiculous.

Me too and I agree it is ridiculous. I'd love to be able to walk to work. Since I moved (admittedly by choice) to the middle of nowhere the 11 mile journey each way is a bit too far to walk. Although I must admit I have considered cycling then decided it was too dangerous. If there was some investment to make it safer then I would love to.

I have decided that I am going to neither walk nor cycle to work.

I'm going to pogo.

I usually take the Overground to work which doesn't get busy at all on my route, but I just checked the journey time if I tried to walk it and it's 45 mins, so doable (although I would normally have considered that too far/long to walk daily during normal times). I wouldn't consider cycling in my part of London - I've witnessed too many nasty accidents. I've been feeling sorry for myself during lockdown because we've been stuck wfh in a tiny flat with no garden, but that was our compromise for living centrally and having a short commute, and it may work out better for us after all.

Watching 24 hours in A&E. if i was in London, there is no way that I would cycle.

You might have to walk the last bit for instance. I can see that being a thing in central London.

A 25mile cycle is not that far. Get on yer bike. Take you about 2hrs. Stop being so lazy.

Very funny satire! You’ve captured the “voice” of a brain dead entitled dementor perfectly.

My DH has lost 3 colleagues who cycled to work and who were killed in RTAs. It is over quite a long period of time, but the roads around here are just too dangerous... partly because drivers don't expect to see cyclists and so don't look for them.

Well personally I am taking the advice on board and will be ordering one of these. Anyone remember having one at school?

OP I think your sarcasm has gone over most people's heads.

My kids have got stilts if anyone wants to borrow?

It tripled the journey time for home to school when they insisted on using them for our daily exercise the other day. So no good if you're in a hurry.

Of course you can cycle 5 miles. Buy a bike with the petrol money you'd save.

I'll see your stilts and raise you a skateboard, @DinosApple.

Electric bike anyone? Cheap and great for longer distances and unfit people

I wish I could walk or cycle to work but there's no way I would make it in time after dropping my youngest at breakfast club. Plus id probably stink if sweat for the rest of the day which my colleagues wouldn't appreciate. I used to work 3miles away and always walked to work and back. I still miss working that close to home.

Bit pointless for some of us
Walk or cycle to work to avoid crowds. But work in a busy place with 30 other people and many members of the public coming and going all day every day My job involves getting up close and personal with our patients well within the 2m limit

Nah. I’m sticking to what I’ve always done

Even those willing to cycle, many offices have removed or never had lockers, storage areas for bikes and don’t have showering facilities.

I'd only cycle on proper off road cycle lanes. I remember the bus I used to go to work on and it just looked lethal cycling on those roads. Always dreaded seeing a cyclist go splat against the window.

I guess they hope it chips away at public transport and car travel overcrowding.
I know people who drive a mile or two to work . I'm a miserable bugger who walks 2 miles there and back, only takes 15 mins longer than driving in the rush hour and I do school drop off first. However this was only possible as I negotiated a 9:30 start.

I sometimes cycle through the parks to work. You couldn't pay me to risk my life and cycle on our roads.

You’ve captured the “voice” of a brain dead entitled dementor perfectly.
As has OP and and the “I LiVe 65MiLeS aWaY hOw cAn I bE eXpEcTeD tO wALk” gang. If people are this thick in real life it’s definitely indicative of a wider problem in society.

I cycled an 18 mile round trip in London for years. It works out as about the same time, if it's actually snowing one day you don't have to do it and the weather is never truly awful in London anyway (and I live over the highest point in London). I lived also in a famously rainy city, but waterproof clothing exists. You can eat as much cake as you like.

Electric assist bikes coming down in price will be a game-changer. Folding bikes too- cycle one way, fold and get the train the other (or part of the way) and you've still reduced your time on public transport.

I don't do it the moment because I commute with a toddler and I think it's too long to have them in the bike seat, but we're looking at juggling so we can do one day on the bike each. I already walk for about 60 minutes anyway- loads more people could walk the central london portion of their journey and avoid the tube.

It's a really positive initiative. Obviously not for everyone, but everyone benefits. No one is going to force you to cycle.

Yesh I was wondering which part of the night I'd be home after my 50 mile ride down the M1.

People are deliberately obtuse, really.

If you're not already using public transport no one needs you off it.

The aim is 1. To prevent people using public transport at all 2. To prevent people moving from PT to their car and causing a spike in air pollution and congestion

I live about 4 miles from work and wish I could cycle in. Our work involves travelling out from base with bulky equipment and sensitive data and unfortunately a car is essential. If everyone who used to use public transport is in cars it will be total gridlock.