With Amy Martin of Sustrans

Although it’s autumn, and the weather may not be as fair as it has been, some could argue there’s never been a better time to switch from four wheels to two.

It’s probably not escaped your attention that significant road works at the Bruce Street Bridges interchange and other locations, are causing even more traffic jams than usual, with some commuters reporting an extra 20 minutes on their usual travelling time. So, what’s the solution?

The first could be working from home. This depends on your type of work, and other factors such as childcare arrangements. But even if you can work from home on just one day a week this would be a significant saving on your travel time, and if more people did this, could ease congestion overall.

For many though, this just isn’t possible. If you need to travel to work, cycling can be a much more sensible solution. It’s cheap, fun, and free, and is a great way to squeeze in a little bit of extra exercise at either end of your day without the need for expensive gym memberships.

If you’re unsure on your route, whether this be for getting to work, dropping your kids off at school, or going to the shops, Sustrans has a local team who can supply you with personalised maps and information by post. Just head to www.beatswindontraffic.co.uk where you’ll find a request form.

If you haven’t got a bike, local bike shop Recycles can loan you one for free for eight weeks so that you can see whether cycling to work is for you. They also sell refurbished bikes at a very reasonable price, or can do full bike services if the one you have sat in your garage or shed needs a bit of TLC before you feel safe riding it again. For more information just search ‘Recycles Swindon’ online.

Finally, if cycling at this time of the year is off-putting, Sustrans also has winter cycling packs available for people living and working in Swindon. The packs include advice on how to prepare your bike for the more testing conditions, tips for how to help you ride safely through the year, and even discount codes for cycling jackets and bike lights.

For more information email swindon@sustrans.org.uk quoting ‘Swindon Advertiser Beat the Traffic’.

For now though, why not put the excuses to one side and give cycling a go, and see if you can beat the traffic!