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Original poster

Walk or cycle to work, says the Government

175 replies

yellowbrickwhorl · 09/05/2020 11:46

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?

OP posts:

campion · 10/05/2020 16:29

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-europe-50189279

Try this one!

AppleKatie · 10/05/2020 16:57

It’d only take me 2hr 45min to cycle according to google maps! I could do that! I must confess to being a bit worried about the 15miles of motorway cycling that includes though.

simonisnotme · 10/05/2020 17:00

walk/cycle to work -not a chance thats what ive got a bloody car for and my knees are knackered

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Cycling

ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 10/05/2020 17:04

This is really a London problem. I don't think the government cares that Sally in Slough or York is driving to work, as per usual.

I can't believe that some people are so ignorant they don't realise that packed public transport also occurs outside London. Commuter trains into Leeds, York, Manchester etc. from surrounding villages and towns are utterly rammed between 7am and 9.30am on weekdays.

Sure not everyone can cycle or walk, but lots of people can (anyone who lives less than 5 miles from work as a minimum), and those who can should consider doing so. If you're an able bodied adult who thinks you couldn't cycle a few miles without turning purple or getting your teeth full of flies (!), you have a problem....

If even just 50% of the public who'd usually take the train into the nearest city for work decided to drive instead, the UK's cities would all be gridlocked. There aren't enough car parking spaces for a start. Staggering commutes would make no discernible difference, it would just be mayhem.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 10/05/2020 17:12

I only work 3 miles from home but unfortunately I'm visually impaired in one eye and have very poor balance so have never been able to get on with biking. Walking would be possible except for how much extra time it would add to the work day and trying to do that around whatever childcare will look like.

So I will keep driving.

My DH on the other hand never bothered with a driving licence and bikes everywhere so he is happy with the announcement and looks forward to seeing what improvements will be made. Most days he comes home with stories of how drivers have nearly knocked him off his bike or pedestrians have walked along the bike lane then cursed at him for using it to cycle. So who knows there could be an improvement.

cologne4711 · 10/05/2020 17:22

My FIL used to walk 10 miles to and from work every day before he could afford a car. My mum used to walk to and from daily mass and to and from school. People used to walk and cycle - it's a mixture of being made lazy, and pushed off the roads by, cars.

25 miles is a bit extreme though What about an e-bike?

NOTANUM · 10/05/2020 17:29

@ReceptacleForTheRespectable Yeah that's a fair call. I actually meant to write a city problem but my brain wasn't engaged.

I can't find it now but I saw a chart that showed some 80% of Londoners take public transport to work but in some rural areas, 80% drive as there is little reliable transport.

GoodWeatherforDucks · 10/05/2020 17:37

Electric bikes are amazing - I recommend them thoroughly if you want to arrive at your workplace up to 8 miles away with barely a bead of sweat upon your lip. On the way home you can turn off the electric assist and pedal like an honest woman and get your exercise for the day. Use the Cycle to Work scheme and get a decent discount on your bike too. And save enough money by not paying for public transport to have paid for the bike by the end of the year anyway! Would also recommend investing in some wet weather gear and a helmet and a decent bike lock and you’re good to go. Only downside is that you’ll never be able to blame the traffic for being late to work again.

LollipopViolet · 10/05/2020 17:53

I'd love to cycle, but 50% of normal peripheral vision means I'd likely be killed. Can't drive either so have to rely on family to take me to work and the bus to get home.

Currently working from home and if I could continue for the majority I'd love to do it.

We definitely have the chance to change the way we work and commute and I hope we can make the most of it.

wowfudge · 10/05/2020 17:54

I walked 5 miles yesterday. Granted it was very hot, but that took me an hour and forty minutes. Work is eleven miles away. I've worked out I'd need to leave home at 6am to be sure of getting there by bus for 9am. We do not have flexitime. It would take 3 hours 11 minutes to walk there with some pretty steep inclines. An hour to cycle along an A road. It would also be incredibly dangerous. But, yeah, why not?!

Fortyfifty · 10/05/2020 19:08

I appreciate many people don't live anywhere near their work. I live in densely populated town where a good proportion of people do work in the town and live 1-5 miles out. There's one cycle lane on one of the main 40mph roads that goes around the outside of the town but zero car-free routes or cycle lanes to take you in to town, to where business, shops and leisure activities are. I'd love to see some investment in cycle infrastructure. It's not even that safe to walk into town from some parts as you're on a narrow path on a busy road. I drive to work or bus but I'd rather walk or cycle and would love to see the town inconveniencing cars in favour of bikes and pedestrians. Thete have been so many people cycling around here whilst the roads have been quiet. It will be a shame to go back to normal. I'm able to keep working from home but would still like to be able to cycle more for short journeys and actually feel safe. Every bike on the road is one less car on the road. Everyone should support better provision for cyclists.

Easilyanxious · 10/05/2020 20:11

He did say avoid public transport if you could and again o my if your work cannot be done at home
Most office type jobs can be done at home it's more construction which are u likely to use public transport and maybe factories / manufacturing etc who may use public transport .

Soph88888 · 10/05/2020 20:18

I feel they’ve missed the point, that surely if people could avoid commuting they would? We have a whole housing market built around train stations

crabsandoranges · 10/05/2020 21:35

We have a whole housing market built around train stations

My nearest (rural) railway station is on a main line. The town I work in is also on a main line. A different one. They used to be joined together but Beeching put paid to that. I'd have to travel 40 miles all the way into London, change stations and travel all the way out again in order to travel 12 miles as the crow flies.

I think I'll stick to the car.

ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 10/05/2020 22:37

12 miles as the crow flies is probably doable by bike. Once or twice a week at least, if not every day.

morethanmeetstheeye · 10/05/2020 22:45

As someone who had to stop driving for health reasons and cycling or walking too far would leave me in agony from my hips, I'm not too sure how they expect me to avoid public transport.

Then, as an asthmatic, I really don't want to put myself at risk on buses.

Not sure how I'm going to get to work...

noriim · 10/05/2020 23:17

I agree electric bikes are amazing.
I wish my commute didn't involve a motorway & taking my dog with me, otherwise I would consider it.
I am lucky I can drive and get a parking space at work.
I work in manufacturing and so have been at work the whole time.

noriim · 10/05/2020 23:21

@Toryssuck I had no idea you were allowed to drive with a visually impairment? Genuine question, how is that safer (for pedestrians in particular) than you riding a bike?

Deviantslagheap · 10/05/2020 23:28

Nothing on earth would make me cycle to work in London. I can barely cycle round the park and stay in a straight line and I know so many actual cyclists who've had terrible accidents, one of them nearly lost a leg.

user1471565182 · 11/05/2020 00:27

Its been bloody brilliant the lack of cars the few times ive been out though. I think its time to start looking at making city centres at least car free with a permit system.

crabsandoranges · 11/05/2020 00:44

12 miles as the crow flies is probably doable by bike

I don't have a flying bike

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 11/05/2020 10:39

@noriim

As long as with both eyes open, with glasses/contacts on you can see to the required level you can legally drive.

I'd be fucked if Iost my glasses mid drive or had to drive with my left eye closed but otherwise with both eyes open I have the required visual acuity to drive safely.

It's also legal to drive if you only have 1 eye, as long as your remaining eye is still good.

www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules

You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scalee_ (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.
You must also have an adequate field of vision - your optician can tell you about this and do a test.

Ipadipod · 11/05/2020 12:04

I don't have a flying bike
ET will be ok

ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 11/05/2020 14:23

I had no idea you were allowed to drive with a visually impairment? Genuine question, how is that safer (for pedestrians in particular) than you riding a bike?

It isn't.

SciFiScream · 11/05/2020 16:23

My uncle only has one eye (the other is a glass eye) he drives, cycles, and rides a motor bike!

I used to delight in scaring him (on foot) on his blind side

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