Personality of the Month - Ian Walker, University of Bath
What is your job or other main activity that involves cycling?
I do research on traffic and transport psychology and my main interest is in issues surrounding cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists. I look at factors affecting their safety as well as how and why people choose to travel in these ways.
How long have you done that?
About 5 years now, although my interest in cycling goes back much further.
Where do you live?
Salisbury, Wiltshire.
What most encourages you about cycling where you live?
It’s just a few minutes riding to get out into some wonderful countryside; there are plenty of options for rides and I can choose challenging hilly routes or stick to valleys if I fancy something less taxing.
What most discourages you about cycling where you live?
Too much traffic in the city, especially the young men in chavved-up cars. And the usual lack of effort from local government when it comes to providing good facilities.
How would you describe yourself as a cyclist?
Practical. I do most of my utility riding in a nippy fashion on a Brompton and determinedly avoid any sort of specialist cycling clothing, as it sends the erroneous message to non-riders that cycling is something “special” done by “others”.
What is you earliest cycling memory?
Whizzing down a hill when I was about six or seven. Sadly the hill ended in a T-junction and I went straight across, hit the kerb and went over the handlebars.
Where is the best place you have ever cycled?
The Carpathian mountains in Romania. They are extraordinarily beautiful and untouched, and the remote village communities are extremely hospitable – stop by the side of the road and it’s only a matter of time until someone appears offering watermelon.
What is your greatest achievement, in terms of encouraging more people to cycle?
Perhaps getting the issue of motorist-cyclist interaction into the news, and making people more aware of what’s happening on the road.
What single thing do you think would do most to encourage more cycling in the UK?
Given the clear increase in cycling in London since the congestion charge came into effect, it sadly looks as though it might need to be more enforced discouragement of driving relatively short distances into cities.
And a much more sensible attitude to infrastructure would go a long way to making things better. Every “Cyclists Dismount” sign should be replaced by one saying “We Have Failed”.
What has been your favourite cycling experience?
Cycling from York to the Black Sea in 1999 – I took a month and had a wonderful time doing it.
What was your worst cycling experience?
I’m not sure I have one. I cycled John o’Groats to Land’s End last April. The weather was appalling and I spent the first eight days battling into blizzards, sodden to the bone and sleeping in a frozen bivvy bag.
What is it about using your bike that you like the most?
The convenience and reliability it offers to my journeys.
The answers given are the opinion of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of any organisation they may represent.
