Personality of the Month - Helen Ross, Nottingham Primary Care Trust
What is your job or other main activity that involves cycling?
Public Health Development Manager – identifying and addressing environmental causes of ill health.
How long have you done that?
10 years
Where do you live?
A suburb of Nottingham.
What most encourages you about cycling where you live?
A Sustrans Cycle Route, good bike shops, and a good canal towpath suitable for cycling.
What most discourages you about cycling where you live?
Laziness - because it is easier to get into the car than onto the bike. I have to remind myself of the benefits sometimes – when I do cycle I remember why it is such a good form of transport!
How would you describe yourself as a cyclist?
I cycle as a commuter mostly – to get to work, to cycle to meetings, do my shopping and to visit friends.
What is you earliest cycling memory?
My dad taught me to ride a bike, and my earliest memory was when I realised that he had let go of the saddle whilst running along beside me and I was cycling on my own!
Where is the best place you have ever cycled?
Scotland – on one of the Islands. It was amazing to cycle past a herd of Highland Cattle.
What is your greatest achievement, in terms of encouraging more people to cycle?
At work we held a Bikers’ breakfast which encouraged one of my colleagues to cycle to work. It was a long way for her, but made her realise it was possible. As a result we gained a new Cycling Champion in the organisation.
On a personal level, when we met my partner had not cycled since he was a boy. He now cycles regularly into Nottingham and to the shops.
What single thing do you think would do most to encourage more cycling in the UK?
Local Authorities and health organisations joining up their efforts to encourage people to cycle and establishing cycle training services. Local Authorities need to encourage modal shift, health organisations need to encourage more people to take more daily exercise. The drivers are different, but cycling can help both to reach their targets.
What has been your favourite cycling experience?
Leaving university in London to cycle home to Nottingham. London is so busy and fast, it was a great experience to set off on my ladies tourer along minor roads through beautiful villages to reach home. It took 3 days and was wonderful.
What was your worst cycling experience?
Falling off my bike on gravel; I was going downhill and applied my brakes. The bike skidded on the loose gravel. Why do people use gravel on cycling routes and paths?
What is it about using your bike that you like the most?
Richards’ Bicycle Book explains this for me. Cycling is a holistic form of travel – it’s good for my health, better than driving for the environment, is a safe and sociable form of transport (I feel safer cycling than walking on dark nights) and saves money. Most of all it’s enjoyable especially when you reach the top of a hill, admire the view, and then freewheel down the other side with the wind blowing in your hair!
The answers given are the opinion of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of any organisation they may represent.
