A Day in the life.....cycling in Lambeth!
Meet Hannah, a Year 2 Active Travel Community Influencer. Hannah embraces cycling as more than just a mode of transportation—it's her vehicle for overcoming obstacles and empowering others.
In this blog, we'll delve into Hannah's inspiring journey as she navigates the streets of her community, fueled by determination and a passion for promoting active travel.
“I have a chronic pain condition (fibromyalgia) and osteoarthritis in my right hip which means walking can sometimes be painful and difficult but I can cycle.” As someone involved in local community organisations she finds it easy to talk to people who might want to cycle. And as a director of theatre, radio and short documentary films she is excited at the prospect of using her creativity to promote cycling. “If I had all the money in the world, I’d love to have several bikes - but I am happy to just start with one - this lovely Ridgeback Velocity - which is helping me to get out and about more with greater freedom.”
On this particular crisp, sunny day in early January, Hannah had work, errands and events across South London, mostly in Lambeth and she was determined to cycle.
Hannah started by taking a route from her home in North Lambeth to the Clapham Library on Clapham High Street. “It was my first time to this Lambeth library. Free travel and a free book!” Stopping to snap a creative photo of herself reflected in the large letter B that forms part of the artwork outside, Hannah is seen dressed in a three quarter length yellow jacket, dark trousers and trainers with her black helmet, holding on to her trusty Ridgeback Velocity.
From here the next stop was Brixton House, 2 kilometers away, for a couple of hours of training and a quick hot chocolate with a friend in Brixton Village. As twilight hours descended she put on her bike lights and headed to St George’s University, situated across the borough border into Wandsworth. “I wanted to watch some friends play a netball game. It took me a gently paced 40 minutes as I navigated the quiet streets, cycle routes and main roads to Tooting.”
After this long chilly day of taking her bike through its paces in South London, Hannah decided to cycle to Tooting Station where she put herself and her Velocity on a train homewards bound. “I loved being able to cycle during the day, it’s great for my mental and physical health.
Feeling able to do it January in the colder weather was also satisfying as I was able to fit in all the things I wanted to into my day, from accessing a book from the library that will help me with work, having more time to meet friends between commitments, getting to work on time because cycling is reliable and keeping the costs down which is particularly good for my financial health.”
