Lockdown has led to more people getting out on their bikes or taking up cycling for the first time. Kath Bowen has been a keen cyclist for many years, but last year she bought an electric bike so she could cycle to work in Exeter. She is so pleased with the opportunities it provides, she is even considering getting rid of her car altogether. We asked her to explain why.
Why did you get an electric bike?
I live in Crediton and work at the Environment Agency on the other side of Exeter and it’s about 15 miles to work. This is really too far for me to cycle twice a day, every day. It would take me an hour and a quarter to get to work, plus time to shower, so that’s a lot of my day gone. So I wondered if getting an electric bike would make it possible.
My electric bike makes cycling in Devon almost like cycling a flat ride! It helps you smoothly up the hills, whilst allowing you to exercise as if on the flat. I absolutely love cycling it to work. I arrive at the start of the day with a big grin on my face. I don’t need a shower, just a change of clothes, and it only takes 10 minutes longer than driving to work. It’s a great feeling passing all the stationary traffic in the queues. I get fit, but not exhausted. There are also lots of cycle routes to get across the city now that avoids the traffic. I’m now wondering if the electric bike can completely replace me having a car.
How would that work?
I have discovered that I can do all my shopping on the bike, using the double panniers on the back. There is no issue with weight as I have assistance. I normally do quite a lot of travelling with my job, so I got some extra insurance for the bike (at about £100), and a gold standard “D” lock, which means I can lock up the bike inside the station in Exeter, and then take the train. If we need to go further afield, say to visit my mum in Bolton, I can always take the train from Crediton, and then hire a car when we get there. I think I could save myself nearly £2000 a year by not having a car. Obviously there are some bike costs, but it would still save me a substantial amount.
I bought the bike through the Bike to Work Scheme. I did not go for the cheapest model, there are lots out there. The Bike Shed in Crediton was really helpful, and let me try out a whole range of bikes until I found one I liked, suited what I wanted and my budget. In the end, I went for a Cube Touring bike at £2,200. This included adding security features such as bolts to make things like wheels harder to steal. This makes it possible to leave it at the station.
How do you cope with the weather and cycling on the A377?
Devon County Council ran an excellent free course on riding safely on the road. (I hope it resumes). It taught me loads about how to cycle with confidence, and in ways that keep me and the drivers safe. It really helped me in cycling on busy roads. I have a luminous jacket, and really bright lights (40 Lumen) both on the bike and on my helmet. Friends say they make me very visible on the road in the dark. Then I have overshoes and waterproof trousers. It sounds like a lot of stuff, but it’s a great investment, not to arrive cold and wet. What a shame in this lovely weather during lockdown, I hardly use it!
Has lockdown changed how you are thinking about commuting?
Like lots of us, lockdown has meant I have had a bit of time to think about all the travel I used to do. we are all thinking about the choices we can make as it is lifted. With public transport being less attractive because of social distancing, and not wanting to contribute to climate change by always switching to a car, an electric bike seems like a really good option.
Because an electric bike can make cycling in Devon like a flat ride, it makes a regular commute to Exeter a real possibility. It would be amazing if there was a traffic free route for cyclists into Exeter.
Seeing the beauty of the wildlife during lockdown, and valuing the planet, I am seriously considering giving up my car, and having my electric bike as my vehicle.
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