Andy, works in Derby city centre

“I Love my journey to work because… I live so close to where I work and play!”

I’ve worked in Derby for 14 years and used to commute from Leicester each day, which was frustrating to say the least. I seemed to waste so much time each day just getting to and from work that I thought there must be a better way to spend my time. When the chance came up for me to move house 8 years ago, I decided to change everything and move as close to the city as I could get, and found the perfect house on Markeaton Street which is just off Ashbourne Road. I chose to live really close to work because it  was where I spent most of my days. To me this made a lot sense!

I bought a 30 year old Raleigh bike off eBay and it’s done me proud. No need for an expensive bike, it gets me about just fine. My journey to work now takes 5 minutes by bike and my journey is so short I can even cycle to work in my suit when I choose to. On nice days I sometimes choose to walk in which takes a bit longer but it’s nice not having to worry about traffic, parking or journey times. It’s simply a pleasure walking or cycling and rather than being stressful, my commute is time I enjoy and use to think about things and unwind.

Not needing a car for day-to-day use has meant I can have a vehicle without having to worry about the running costs or its practicality. This has meant that I have been able to spend my money on a camper van, which is amazing and it’s meant I can get away on holiday whenever I want. If I needed a car to get to work each day, I simply wouldn’t have this option as I couldn’t afford to run 2 vehicles.

But to me it’s not about saving money, choosing to cycle and getting my camper van has meant I can live the life I want to. I also feel better inside knowing that I don’t clog up the roads every day or contribute to pollution. Choosing to live so close to work and cycle or walk is definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!