Stories from the United Kingdom

It all starts along time ago in a far away place. I am a proud owner of a tadpole trike a fun, not that fast but fun, if you define fun as rolling in the company carpark after doing a rather cool h... read more

I don't really have a specific story. I simply ride because it's good for the environment, good for my wallet, good for my mental and physical health, and I enjoy it. It would be amazing if all... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

3

We made the leap and scrapped our car last May - now our bikes and trailer have become our car. We still hire cars if we need to travel further afield (both sets of parents live in the middle of no... read more

Rachel B I'm planning on staying without a car when I move out on my own soon - my parents also live out in the middle of nowhere so... read more

I'm planning on staying without a car when I move out on my own soon - my parents also live out in the middle of nowhere so I've been trying to work out how best to get to them to visit! I have had comments about losing independence if I'm without a car but your story makes me feel more confident about my choice :)

Hannah Page Ah, I can highly recommend Co-Cars, which is the car club we use, they also hire out e-bikes as part of their fleet. We hav... read more

Ah, I can highly recommend Co-Cars, which is the car club we use, they also hire out e-bikes as part of their fleet. We have cycled to my husbands parents on Dartmoor - it was definitely a challenge and combined train & cycling to my parents. I think it's just the 'norm' when it comes to owning a car for many - we had a lot of very surprised friends and family who I think thought they would never see us again!

Rachel B Thank you Hannah, that's really helpful! :D

Thank you Hannah, that's really helpful! :D

Show 1 more comments

I was lucky enough to win a £300 voucher by submitting my Carbon Crushers story about how since August I have ditched my petrol car and have been navigating life by using my bike, bus and on occasi... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

1

5

Claire Sharpe That's awesome! Really great that the voucher is going to get you riding even more.

That's awesome! Really great that the voucher is going to get you riding even more.

My car has been replaced by a small e-cargo bike ( I like to think of it as a utility bike) for almost all of my local journeys, and quite a few not so local trips too. My daughter has recently bou... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

1

9

RB BB I am a keen trailer user. My father has a 1/3 of an acre garden. I love collecting large bags of compost, fertilizer etc an... read more

I am a keen trailer user. My father has a 1/3 of an acre garden. I love collecting large bags of compost, fertilizer etc and travelling to waste disposal site to drop off unwanted items. It's definitely satisfying not to use the car. I never us the car if the journey is less than 10 miles! Keep it up!

As i had been very much enjoying the cleaner lockdown air, i thought i'd do my bit to help keep it that way. I adapted a regular bike trailer to fit the back of my Kingcycle recumbent bike, and did... read more

Great News Love to Ride Cycle September Always good to get people out cycling Activity keeps you much healthier I’m out three, four times a week, not working Set a goal, twelve hundred miles,... read more

I needed to pick a few things up from the local shopping centre about 5 miles from home. Usually I would jump in the car but yesterday decided to donn cycling gear! Felt really good except for the ... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

1

4

Penny Schenkel Well done on the shopping trip. I hate taking the car to the shops and try to use my bike all the time. Sometimes, I try to... read more

Well done on the shopping trip. I hate taking the car to the shops and try to use my bike all the time. Sometimes, I try to get too many things on the bike but generally it works out ok.

With the nights drawing in and the 🍁 rain debris on the road I have switched from a road bike to a Giant Revolt Gravel bike and I love it 😻 just need the mudguards fitting as I hate being dirty ...... read more

After prompting from my Love to Ride 'Team Leader' I started cycling to and from the gym during the love to ride month to pick up 'Day' points. Since the end of love to ride month I have cont... read more

Through COVID I switched to cycling to work on at least two of four days a week, this has increased and I now cycle almost every day I am working. This has reduced my car useage, improved my fitn... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

3

Wednesdays are now my day in the office, which means I also take my son to school - we have got into a great routine of going by bike. Then I carry on to the office on my bike. Then the same journ... read more

After a fall a few years ago I never worked up the courage to get back on my bike, until being inspired by Cycle September. Since then I've loved riding my bike to work or to the shops, come rain (... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

3

It's surprising how many parents place their comfort and convenience over that of their children's future. Yes, it may seem more convenient to rush out of the house in PJs and slippers at 5 minutes... read more

I have worked from home since lockdown in March and this has saved a car journey of 25 miles each way to work. Using the M1 daily I was invariably caught up in traffic queues and the fumes created ... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

3

My friend hasn’t cycled in 30 years. She was given a bike but it was in need of repair. I booked her in to a local Dr Bike session and she was able to ride it home. I’ve been taking her out on litt... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

7

Prior to the lockdown, like many families, we had 2 cars. But with them being used so little due to home schooling and working from home my wife and I decided to seize the opportunity to sell one. ... read more

In January I started a new job which allowed me to cycle 12 miles to and from work. My previous job was 30 miles and 3 motorways away so cycling wasn’t an option. I decided to sell my car and put s... read more

It's been fantastic to see so many children cycling to the school where I work each week. I love seeing my bike in the bike rack alongside a variety of almost adult sized racers, mid-sized mountain... read more

Before having children I was often out on the bike, but since having had children I have rarely been out. Since lockdown - and when the girls were able to return to nursery.. we were asked to not ... read more

For Cycle September this year my wife and I were working from home as our buildings are currently for essential office workers only. As I normally cycle 10 miles to work and back again each day I n... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

1

For the car free day we decided to trial cycling both kids (1 and 3years old) to nursery. The kids loved it! Having the oldest on the front meant we could discuss traffic lights, cars and indicatin... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

7

I cycle everywhere despite the fact we own two cars, however it's just a shame there's too many reckless drivers out there even when you have a child with you. When will it ever be a safe journey?

Topic: Carbon Crushers

4

This year my car has seen very little action, sitting patiently on the drive while I either work from home or cycle to the office, so it seemed a shame to use it on Car Free Day (September 22nd) fo... read more

I'm a "dyed in the wool" cyclist and have commuted to work by bike for over 5 years now. However, since 18th March I have been working from home, which (you would think) reduces the amount of cycl... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

1

About 8 years (and 20,000+ miles each) ago, my wife and I set ourselves a personal challenge, to use our cars as little as possible. We only have the one car now, which is only used for long journe... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

1

On World Bicycle Day, we cycled along the glorious Exe Estuary Cycle Path to Lympstone. With our son in the trailer (alongside his bucket and spade) - we ditched the busy Exeter roads and opted for... read more

This January we got a brand new electric cargo bike at work to help deliver food to people in need. It means I'm doing loads more cycling and feeling great. Although it's an electric assisted bike,... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

7

To celebrate my husband's 80th birthday last month, the family helped us buy two new e-bikes. We've both ridden ordinary hybrid bikes for years and managed 25 miles fairly comfortably even in hilly... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

4

9

Ivan Lafayette What an inspiration! Keep doing what you're doing 'cause obviously you are doing it very well!!

What an inspiration! Keep doing what you're doing 'cause obviously you are doing it very well!!

Christine King Thank you!

Thank you!

Anne Davies WOW you are amazing... we have only just started cycling...we have a long way to go. Very inspirational

WOW you are amazing... we have only just started cycling...we have a long way to go. Very inspirational

Christine King Thanks Anne! And you'll get there - just enjoy your cycling and as you get fitter you'll find it gets easier ;-)

Thanks Anne! And you'll get there - just enjoy your cycling and as you get fitter you'll find it gets easier ;-)

Show 2 more comments

We are loving doing the school run on our bikes! We avoid the traffic, the parking nightmare and we arrive with a smile!

From the 15th of September, during #CycleSeptember, I decided I would cycle every day of the month. But I wish I did start at the beginning of the month. However, I decided I would still cycle fo... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

7

Rushing to meet some friends for a road ride on Saturday I noticed the headset was loose. I grabbed the Allen keys and got adjusting keeping one eye on the clock. In my haste, I overtightened the b... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

4

I gave blood the other day, and used my bike (it's allowed! …. as long as you don't push too hard after donating). Donor sessions are always busy and it's often difficult to park your car - cyclin... read more

When the unthinkable happened and the roads fell quiet, it was a unique glimpse of what is possible, of the world we could have. The birds sounded louder, the air tasted sweeter and cycling was saf... read more

My car needed to go to the garage so instead of getting a lift or the bus back home, I threw (very gently) my bike into the back of the car so that I could cycle home after dropping it off. Saving... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

3

I used to drive my car to the gym to walk on the treadmill. I would go macdonalds for a big mac on the way home. Now I ride my bike from home for a workout and pick something up to eat from the l... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

7

Although I'd been cycling too and from work (8 miles) for several years, I had never attempted to 'go on holiday' by bike. Well, I decided this was the year - especially as travel restrictions mean... read more

Christine King We hope to cycle to at Austell too. Where did you get your route from please? We don't want to be anywhere near main roads!... read more

We hope to cycle to at Austell too. Where did you get your route from please? We don't want to be anywhere near main roads! Thanks 😊

Christine King St Austell not at! Spell check grrr

St Austell not at! Spell check grrr

Karen M Hi Christine! It was a really amazing journey. If you look at the Sustrans maps online i basically created a route using th... read more

Hi Christine! It was a really amazing journey. If you look at the Sustrans maps online i basically created a route using the National Cycle Routes so quite a bit was on quieter roads/cycle paths. From Exeter I took the old A30 to Okehampton, then joined the Granite Way (27) to Lydford, then across onto the 327 through Launceston until it joined the number 3 which takes you up over Bodmin and onto the Camel Trail and then continued to follow the route 3 through Bodmin to St. Austell. There is a good interactive map on the sustrans website. There are route markers (the small blue ones) on all of the major routes so i only got a little lost at a couple of points, but generally easy to follow! Hope you have a great time if you do it or even over a couple of days :)

Christine King Thanks Karen. This is really helpful. We've e-bikes so it should be an easier ride for us!

Thanks Karen. This is really helpful. We've e-bikes so it should be an easier ride for us!

Show 2 more comments

Today, for Clean Air Day, we (my 4 year old daughter and I) rode our bikes to school instead of driving. She came off her stabilisers in the summer and is growing in confidence every ride. Her li... read more

Since lockdown started, I've managed to almost completely switch to commuting by bicycle! The quiet roads and pop up cycle lanes have made me feel happy enough to get myself to work via pedal powe... read more

I am now 62 and became interested in environmental matters in my teens, yes the 1970s. Even then, I could see the over reliance on cars, was going to get us into a lot of trouble. A little mo... read more

I live just over 2 miles from my place of work and understand that it's not doing myself or the environment any good by taking the car to work. I am now cycling to work Monday to Friday and hope i... read more

We plan the route two days before it is an easy ride with a stop at the end for lunch. we start our ride blissfully unaware we have downloaded two different rides so we use Nics garmin to follow t... read more

I’ve been encouraged to do my bit to reduce our family’s carbon emissions. One easy change for us is cycling the nursery/work commute instead of using our family car. My toddler is seated quite hap... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

14

We've had bikes since 1976. We don't have a car and haven't had since 1998 - that one was inherited from Polly's mother and we've never bought one. I don't even have a driving license. We use our b... read more

Decided that rather than go somewhere to enjoy a bit of downtime we could use our bikes to make the journey a bit of a memorable family experience instead. Cycled up some very large hills (!), stop... read more

I have enjoyed the challenge of cycling to work, spurred on by the Love to Ride Cycle September and a bit of healthy inter-departmental competition. I regularly commuted by bike in London, but less... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

3

I absolutely loved the #CycleSeptember Challenge. But I only committed to riding everyday from the 15th September (I was away, without a bicycle - for the week before that) So I have decided t... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

3

My petrol car was coming up for its' insurance renewal in August, this was set to cost me circa £60 with tax. In a bid to save money, I decided to declare the car as SORNed and attempt to live car-... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

2

14

Deborah Hanks Wonderful

Wonderful

Hersha Mistry You have shown that with a bit of thought and planning it is possible to ditch the car!

You have shown that with a bit of thought and planning it is possible to ditch the car!

The start of lockdown gave me weekend time at home to finally get round to recommissioning a vintage Carlton road bike I've had for several years but which has been sitting in the shed for the last... read more

Topic: Carbon Crushers

1

1

Robin Pottinger Perhaps worth noting I'm a key worker who has had to carry on working full time at the office throughout the year. I count ... read more

Perhaps worth noting I'm a key worker who has had to carry on working full time at the office throughout the year. I count myself lucky though - not being trapped at home, quieter roads to enjoy and most importantly still employed.

When our son transitioned from the local primary school to a secondary school 7 miles away, he agreed to try and cycle there and back a few days a week. He is now 4 weeks in, has cycled well over 4... read more