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Bikebudi rides to the rescue!
By Ciaran Mundy | October 16, 2008
So you pledge to be free from flying and decide to go the whole hog and give up the car too. . . Worried about how safe it is to cycle? Cecilia Bromley-Martin tells us more about a new way to feel confident about cycling:
It’s true, you’re unlikely to be able to substitute a plane flight with a bike journey. But as CO2-free travel goes, it’s hard to beat.
So why aren’t more of us riding to work?
It’s healthy, green, cheap. No need to worry about traffic jams, pollution levels or car parking hassles. Basically, if work is within a few miles of home, it’s eminently do-able for most of us.
But it’s not always that simple. In my last job I lived just four miles from my office, and had enthusiastic plans to ride in every day - but it never happened. The organisation where I worked had made itself as cycle-friendly as possible, but the truth is I was put off by the idea of doing it alone. The car journey was short, and the idea of riding for an hour a day – often in bad weather and after dark – was daunting.
I’m not a very experienced cyclist. I was concerned. How safe is a woman riding on her own after dark? What was the best route? What did I need to know about cycling in rush-hour traffic? And how would I avoid the boredom that I feared?
As it turns out, there is a solution if you find yourself in a similar situation: find yourself a bike buddy. Someone to share your commute with – for safety and for some friendly company. There is a free website – www.bikebudi.com – where you can register your cycle journey and then search for others riding the same way.
The idea of the site is not just to help current cyclists to find bike buddies. It also encourages individuals who may be concerned about riding to give it a go by putting them in touch with more experienced cyclists who know about riding safely, the best routes, bike security, taking a bike on public transport, suitable clothing and so on.
The site also calculates the carbon dioxide emissions you’ll be saving compared to making that journey solo in a car: a substantial addition to the CO2 you cut out with a Low Fly Zone pledge. So not only will biking bring a rosy glow to your cheeks, but you’ll also experience a glow of satisfaction at seeing how much further it is helping you to reduce your annual carbon footprint.
Topics: Alternatives to Air Travel, Avoid Flying, Business Travel, CO2 emissions, FAQ Pledging Not to Fly, Holiday by Train, Your Experiences |