Amy Nguyen is a Community Lead in the shared office space that Bicycle NSW currently works out of in Sydney.
At the start of the year Amy’s commuting habits shifted - a lot. Previously she was combining a twenty minute metro journey with a walk at either end. Now Amy is riding her newly purchased e-bike, completing a 36km return journey three times a week!
And these week-day habits - clocking over one-hundred kilometres between Monday and Friday - have developed into weekend exploration, as she has started doing local cycles with her partner and two-year-old son.
As a new Bicycle NSW Member and another ambassador for an active commute, we asked Amy some questions about her recent uptake of e-biking.
Also, at the bottom of the article we’ve included some tips for navigating the obstacles that often stop people from cycling to work.
Coming off the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway, Amy enjoys the bike lanes along Kent and Castlereagh Street before arriving at the office (Image: Bicycle NSW)
Q and A with Amy
Q: How did you commute to work before this year?
I walked ten minutes from my home, then took the metro from Macquarie University Station to Gadigal, before walking another ten minutes at the other end.
Q: How far is the route to cycle now?
18km each way. Inbound takes 1hr and the return home takes an extra ten minutes. Often I ride with my husband. Having his company makes the time go much quicker than when I used to sit on the train!
I’ve met some really nice bike riders on the road who checked in on me when I stopped to catch my breath and some riders showed me the best route to cross a very busy highway.
Amy’s commute includes the new ramp to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway. The completion of this has allowed Amy to consider commuting to work without worrying about pushing up the 55 steps at Milsons Point (Image: Bicycle NSW]
Q: Which bike are you riding?
A Liv electric mountain bike. It’s designed for everyday riding, but also for more adventurous trails. Maybe one day I’ll begin exploring off-road routes around Sydney.
Q: Do you use a local bike shop?
Both my husband and I have started using Cyclery Northside Chatswood.
Amy arrives outside the TWP office building on Goulburn Street, where there are end of trip facilities to shower and change before work (Image: Bicycle NSW)
Q: Since you’ve been cycling, what changes have you noticed in your daily routine?
My diet has definitely improved. I’ve started having breakfast before work, which I usually skipped before, and I’m more hungry in the evenings after the return journey, so I've started having dinner an hour earlier.
Q: Have you started doing more riding beyond your commute?
Yes, as a family we’ve started riding over the weekend too. My partner and I take our 2-year-old baby on trips to the parks and playgrounds, and to do the groceries too.
Amy and her husband can enjoy car-free weekends of exploring by using a rear-mounted bike seat for their two-year old son (Image: Bicycle NSW)
[image: Bicycle NSW]
Removing barriers for riding to work
Some people need to drive a work vehicle or carry equipment to work, or travel too far to use active transport.
However - for most of us - there is an opportunity to switch a section of our commute, or even the entire thing. We’ve provided some short answers to the questions you might be asking before setting off:
- Don’t own a bike or have space to store one at home? Explore a bike share scheme operating in your area, such as Lime, HelloRide, or Ario.
- Don’t know your route? It’s important to establish a safe and accessible route for your commute. Navigation apps such as RidewithGPS will help you establish a well-used A to B. Otherwise, use websites from councils you need to travel through, or reach out to your local Bicycle User Group for advice on the best route. If you are in Sydney, the Facebook group 'Sydney Bike Commuters' is a great sounding board for cycling, with an active community sharing advice on route planning.
- Too far to ride all the way to work? Consider trying a multi-modal journey, such as riding to your local station, securing your bike safely, and riding the train for a portion of your commute. Using a mix of transport modes is a good way to keep an active element, without exhausting yourself every week!
- Want your bike to be safe? It’s necessary to find somewhere that your bike can be secured so it doesn't get stolen or damaged. Again, your boss or building manager should be able to help
- Need to get ready after your ride? Does your work place have end of trip facilities that will allow you to shower and change? If your work has none, speak with your boss or building manager to see what arrangements can be made.
Become a Member and be insured whilst cycling
Bicycle NSW's Personal Accident and Public Liability cover is a cost effective way to:
- Give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind while you are out riding
- Protect yourself and your loved ones
- Provide protection from financial risk when something goes wrong
Become a member today and be instantly covered by the best insurance available to recreational riders in NSW.
Membership starts from $121 per year (less than $2.50 a week).
