Increasing petrol prices and cycling inspiration can create new cyclists.

[Sore Thumb]

Once a week I stop off at a cafe on the way home during my daily cycle commute. I cycle everyday of the year and in all weathers.

Well today I went into the cafe and the young lady behind the counter said that she was now finding petrol prices too expensive and that I as a cyclist had the right idea and she herself was now thinking about cycling too work. She did think about walking but there was no footpaths down the country lanes.

I said that I saved around £90 a month by cycling and that cycling was safe and not as bad as some people think.

So financial pressures and seeing me cycle in to the cafe every week has given her the inspiration to maybe give cycling a go.

Made me feel good today and this is the first time ever that I might have created a new cyclist. :-)

 

[LilacM3L]

And if you think about how much you save on gym membership by getting your fitness from cycling, that's an added bonus!

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I used to tell the guy I worked with about my mountain biking (in the days before injury and girlfriend). He decided to have a go, got a cheap bike, he's now totally hooked and posting on Strava.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Once a week I stop off at a cafe on the way home during my daily cycle commute. I cycle everyday of the year and in all weathers.

Well today I went into the cafe and the young lady behind the counter said that she was now finding petrol prices too expensive and that I as a cyclist had the right idea and she herself was now thinking about cycling too work. She did think about walking but there was no footpaths down the country lanes.

I said that I saved around £90 a month by cycling and that cycling was safe and not as bad as some people think.

So financial pressures and seeing me cycle in to the cafe every week has given her the inspiration to maybe give cycling a go.

Made me feel good today and this is the first time ever that I might have created a new cyclist. :-)

Did you get her phone number?

 

[Sore Thumb]

Maybe we should push cycling as a money saver. As this is the main issue motorists seem to talk about at work. "Using the car and parking charges are getting too much".

 

[redcard]

And if you think about how much you save on gym membership by getting your fitness from cycling, that's an added bonus!

Just don't tell them that they'll likely spend more than the gym membership on cycling gear

 

[Sore Thumb]

Did you get her phone number?

My wife and two children might not approve I'm afraid.

 

[redcard]

My wife and two children might not approve I'm afraid.

Think he was hoping you were gonna share

 

[col]

I agree to a point, but after a certain distance its not practical for most to cycle. So the price increase could put some out of work?

 

[Sore Thumb]

I agree to a point, but after a certain distance its not practical for most to cycle. So the price increase could put some out of work?

I used to work in Birmingham and it would sometimes take me over one hour in the car to get home. Now I work closer to home and cycle in. I shop more local, I have days out with the children more local. With financial pressures I have without knowing it changed how I live. I now do a lot of things more local.

Maybe not an option for some people. But without these financial pressures people would not think twice about how they live their lives. Sometimes having a little less money to spend can have a positive effect.

 

[gambatte]

I thinki the average commute is about 8 miles?
Do-able for most?

 

[redcard]

It's crazy that we've come to a position where people are commuting further and further distances.
Think of central Scotland. You have 1000s of people in Glasgow travelling to work in Edinburgh, and there's 1000s more travelling in the opposite direction.

Spending 2-4 hours on a bus, train or car every day isn't benefitting anyone.

 

[benb]

I agree to a point, but after a certain distance its not practical for most to cycle. So the price increase could put some out of work?

You would have a point if most people made any effort to drive economically. Most people have a ridiculously inefficient vehicle, and drive it in a completely inefficient manner.

 

[col]

I used to work in Birmingham and it would sometimes take me over one hour in the car to get home. Now I work closer to home and cycle in. I shop more local, I have days out with the children more local. With financial pressures I have without knowing it changed how I live. I now do a lot of things more local.

Maybe not an option for some people. But without these financial pressures people would not think twice about how they live their lives. Sometimes having a little less money to spend can have a positive effect.

As I said, I do agree to a point. If there were jobs closer that I was able to go for I would. But Im guessing more and more are needing to go further for work.

 

[col]

You would have a point if most people made any effort to drive economically. Most people have a ridiculously inefficient vehicle, and drive it in a completely inefficient manner.

I dont go over 60, well rarely unless I need to, as this is the optimum fuel saving speed for me. It saves me about a fiver each week. To make my job not worth it for me it would need to double my fuel bill, Im hoping that is some time away yet.