beta
On yer bike

On yer bike

DoAction 02

Veg outClean your bills
Pedal your way aroundDoers doing this DoAction have pledged to save: 31056 kg CO2
in

Spread the news

 

 

Chopper, mountain bike, racer or penny-farthing, whatever wheels you have – get em rolling! 

Switch a few journeys from petrol power to pedal power and get fit while saving money, carbon and time.

Why?

Health

We are becoming a very unfit nation.  Some of us spend a shocking five weeks a year commuting.1  Imagine if those five weeks were spent exercising! It could make an incredible difference to rising problems like heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

If you find yourself complaining that you don’t have time to take exercise, or that the gym is too expensive, then this is the action for you. Kill four birds with one stone: take exercise while saving time, money, and the environment.

Climate change

Road transport accounts for 22% of the UK's carbon emissions, yet around half the car journeys made in the UK are less than five miles.2  Not only are these journeys the easiest to walk or cycle, but they are also the least fuel efficient – cold engines use almost twice as much fuel as engines that have warmed up.3

Time

For short journeys in a city, cycling is almost always faster: A four-mile journey in London, for example, can take half the time on a bike than in a car.

 

Money

Running a car is expensive. Public transport isn’t cheap either.  Cycling is as good as free, especially if you can hook yourself up with a cheap bike through The Government’s Cycle to Work Scheme, or if you live in London and can use one of the Boris Bikes.

£1000

could be saved each year by switching to cycling 4

 

Congestion

We all hate it. Traffic jams, honking horns, road rage... Enough said. Whizz through it in the early morning sun on your two trusty wheels instead.

 

 

 

How?

If you own a bike, you’re all set. You just need to pick your route.  If you don’t, then your local bike shop is probably the best place to head. Check these guys out first:

  • The Cycling Experts – From independent bike shop listings to bike-buying advice, this is a veritable bible of cycling resources.

  • Sustrans – A national sustainable transport charity providing maps of national cycle routes and plenty of other great advice on cycling and walking.

  • Transport for London Cycling Guides – Maps of the city’s many cycle routes, safety tips, maintenance guides and listings of bike-related events and special offers. A fantastic resource if you’re based in London.

Once you've got your bike, it's time to get geared up. Check out our friends at Torm who specialise in comfortable gear for cyclists. Alternatively, you can try Wiggle who offer some great discounts on quality sports gear, and you're off!

Want to do this action? Head over to our list of Doers and make a pledge. 

Got other tips or great resources to share? Please email them over to us at

 

1 - TUC report
2 - Environmental Protection UK
3 - RAC Eco-Driving guide
4 - ERM