Personality of the Month - Matt Seaton, the Guardian
What is your job or other main activity that involves cycling?
My main job is deputy editor of the Guardian’s online comment site, Comment is free; but I also write a weekly column on cycling for the features section, G2.
How long have you done that?
Since September 2005. I think we can say that the Guardian was the first national newspaper to create a column about cycling - taking away space from car reviews to do so (which is a result, in my book).
Where do you live?
In Kennington, south London. Apart from commuting, most of my riding is south out of London. We’re blessed with the North Downs, Surrey Hills and Weald of Kent - all within an hour’s ride or so.
What most encourages you about cycling where you live?
London has become a vastly better environment for cyclists in the past five years, thanks to Ken Livingstone and Transport for London. There’s always more to be done, of course, but there are visibly more people on bikes as a result.
What most discourages you about cycling where you live?
Speeding cars, doing 40+mph in 30 limits. I’d like to see 20mph become the rule in all built-up areas.
How would you describe yourself as a cyclist?
A fairly full-on bike nut. I commute, I do road-racing and cyclo-cross, and I own six bikes at the last count.
What is your earliest cycling memory?
Being helped, aged maybe six, to learn to ride without stabilisers in our back garden by a French exchange student.
Where is the best place you have ever cycled?
Probably Mallorca. The roads through the mountain range up the island’s north-west coast are truly beautiful; happy memories.
What is your greatest achievement, in terms of encouraging more people to cycle?
I can’t claim much, but the response to the column in the Guardian has been very positive. People don’t always agree with me, or like what I write, but they do appreciate having the presence and an advocate in the national press. And that’s a big privilege, of course.
What single thing do you think would do most to encourage more cycling in the UK?
In nuts-and-bolts policy terms, the 20mph speed limit in urban areas (as above); we need to calm traffic more to get more people feeling safe enough to cycle. But in the near future, I’m excited about the Tour de France coming to Britain and London this year.
What has been your favourite cycling experience?
For adrenalin kicks, getting to ride in the amateur criterium race around Whitehall and the Embankment on closed roads for the first year of the re-born Tour of Britain.
What was your worst cycling experience?
Falling off and breaking my collarbone (in a race, only myself to blame) a couple of years ago was not something I want to repeat any time soon.
What is it about using your bike that you like the most?
The independence and autonomy; its reliability and practicality; and the satisfaction of travelling under one’s own steam, feeling fit and healthy, and the physical pleasure of pedalling and ‘flying’ on two wheels.
The answers given are the opinion of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of any organisation they may represent.
