Personality of the Month - Mary Farrar, Cycling Officer, Calderdale
What is your job or other main activity that involves cycling?
I work in Transportation. I have been mainly involved in building cycling infrastructure, but have established an annual Cycling Festival, which has turned into a weekend event now. This year we are holding our first annual Cycling Criterion supported by British Federation of Cyclists. The town centre will be closed to traffic from noon until 9pm. That a success in itself!
How long have you done that?
3 years in Safer Routes to School and now 3 years in Transportation.
Where do you live?
Sowerby Bridge, halfway between Hebden Bridge and Halifax. It’s very hilly here in the Pennines.
What most encourages you about cycling where you live?
It has beautiful scenery; the hills are challenging and make the rides more interesting. The National Hill Championships were held here, and the Tour of Britain comes through each year. We have the longest continuous gradient in England! I think all people; especially our kids should have a fitness level to climb these hills. That’s what I tell the head teachers and they never argue with me!
What most discourages you about cycling where you live?
Traffic.
How would you describe yourself as a cyclist?
A masochist!
What is you earliest cycling memory?
I wanted my first bike for Christmas. It wasn’t under the tree. My mother asked me to get her a glass of water in the kitchen. I went in and a new bike with a sparkling, banana seat was in there. I learned to ride that day.
Where is the best place you have ever cycled?
I cycled over 1000 km from Roscoff to Toulouse and back on a tandem. The French would put down their shopping and clap as we went passed then buy us a drink in the bar. I think they love cycling and romance and the tandem combined the two.
What is your greatest achievement, in terms of encouraging more people to cycle?
In 2001, I got 100 kids to ride their bikes to school every day for a week on a bike train. A week later I went to the town and there were kids on bikes everywhere. That was the best moment of my career.
What single thing do you think would do most to encourage more cycling in the UK?
Doubling the price of petrol.
What has been your favourite cycling experience?
Going over the handlebars three times whilst mountain biking, and it didn’t hurt.
What was your worst cycling experience?
When a car pulled in front of me then slammed on its brakes to park, oblivious to me. Scary.
What is it about using your bike that you like the most?
Blasting down hills at 40 mph after a long climb.
The answers given are the opinion of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of any organisation they may represent.
