Active Transportation and You: Making Communities Better Through Being More Present In Your Commute

The 4th love of my life after my husband and my cats

I’ll be the first person to tell you how bad I’m at sports, so when you hear me say that I bike about 8km each way to go to one of my favourite places, you may think I’m lying.

Lucky for me, I started biking more thanks to the electric bike my husband got through an outstanding partnership between the London Bicycle Cafe and Andrew McClenaghan, as a gift for those who stuck around after a company merger, and let me tell you, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

While my mission has always been to be more connected with my city and communities, I found it hard to do after I moved to the west end, and started to fall into self-imposed isolation. That bike changed everything for me.

I could go to the city’s core and not have to cancel any plans once I was there because I was too tired. The trails in this city are just spectacular, and if you haven’t taken a long walk through the Thames Valley Pathway, you need to fix that asap.

The London Bicycle Cafe gave me a little slice of space between errands and commuting home, and it encouraged me to get to know the people there better. I love how there’s always something going on there, like art exhibitions or talks about municipal liability, or just a wide berth of information about active transportation and great advice about bikes. 

I was able to take a bike ride with the cafe’s manager Andrew Hunniford, from their centric location at 320 Thames St, while we were chatting about the river, the bridges and how much this city has to offer to cyclists and pedestrians alike. 

I learned so much about how active transportation makes sense in our urban city, especially with communities like the London Cycle Link looking out for their fellow riders. 

One of my favourite sections of the Thames Valley Pathway

Biking isn’t only a more sustainable way to move through the city, but it also helps grow our local businesses and makes you more aware of your surroundings. When people bike instead of drive, they are more likely to stop and shop at local businesses along their route.

I love how a third space of this kind has emerged in a city that has the potential to become vibrant. 

I know that biking is not for everyone, but chances are that you can bring some of that joy and curiosity you had when you took your bike and played as a kid, and rediscover your city in a more immersive way.

Check out the London Bicycle Cafe for amazing events, coffee, and great conversations, and if you see me on the patio, say hi.

Have a great day, and go out there! There is always something happening in London.