Cycling To Work
This image was taken from: myfijiguide.com
Some companies encourage employees to use bicycles to get to work. They realize how healthy it is, that it saves the environment and can also save you lots of money! Very often cycling saves your time as you can pass quicker while the others have to be waiting in a queue.
Mark Smith from Cycle Derby sold his car a year ago. And he has never regretted it. Now he rides his bike and the journey to his office is now even 10 minutes quicker! What’s more, he saved about £3,000 a year since giving up his car. “It also keeps me fit, the health benefits are great,” Mark said.
He doesn’t think everyone should ride a bike to work but he advises this activity for a few times a week.
Friar Gate is a team of cyclists that was set up three years ago. Just before that, Derby became one of six cycling demonstration towns in the UK. The town was then given £1.5m to develop a cycling scheme. The aim is to get more people to use their bikes. Friar Gate is planning to prepare cycle training, install cycle shelters at schools and set up after-school bike clubs.
Since 2005, the team has succeeded in doubling from one per cent the number of city youngsters who cycle to school. Bikeability is a cycle training that is now available to all the year-six and year-five students. The club runs also after-school cycling clubs. “They are a bit like a football club but on bikes. We do games, teach riding skills, go out on rides,” said coach, Lauren Smith. “I think they enjoy it because it is something different. Loads of people play football and cricket but that is not for everyone”.
Also covered bike shelters were built by Friar Gate’s initiative. The team has many other plans as well. They want to involve primary school children in cycling and install covered cycle shelters in all the primary schools in the city.
