Have we found the answer to the cycling culture war?

Good afternoon members — and welcome to Thursday’s Tribune.

You can’t escape cycling at the moment. Whether it’s Dan Walker’s near-death experience on a Sheffield roundabout or the idea of so-called “15-minute neighbourhoods” where walking and cycling is easier than travelling by car, it seems that the debate around active travel is everywhere. Unfortunately, as with most things these days, it has become a culture war, with people polarised into opposing camps. But maybe it doesn’t need to be. I went out with regular Tribune contributor David Bocking on Wednesday morning for a cycle safety refresher.

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Have we found the answer to the cycling culture war?

They say you never forget how to ride a bike. Well, let’s test that theory, should we?

Because I should definitely know how to ride a bike safely. I live in the city centre and it’s difficult to ignore the sheer amount of traffic that sweeps past my Park Hill flat. Sheffield is one of the most congested cities in the country and every time I nip out in my car I’m adding to the problem.

There’s also the climate argument as well. However fuel-efficient my 1.0 litre Skoda Citigo is, it’s still adding to carbon emissions, and therefore unsustainable in the long run. As a result, Sheffield City Council has set itself the ambitious target of ensuring that 15-20% of all journeys will be undertaken by bike in the next few years. Currently, that number hovers just under 2%.

It’s easy to see why — there are plenty of obstacles for would-be cyclists. In the absence of enough good quality cycling infrastructure in the city, those who want to get around the city by bike have to travel on busy main roads, which rules out anxious or beginner cyclists. These roads also bring them into contact with drivers, which shouldn’t be a big deal, but it’s 2023 and every last (innocuous) thing is a big deal. Like with so many other tiny details of life, this crossover has become a culture war, with drivers and cyclists at each other’s throats in the battle for precious road space.

Since my dad lent me an old mountain bike of his last year, I’ve been out on it a bit, but I couldn’t really say I’ve become a passionate two-wheeler. My trips out have been limited to going into town, using the pavements (tut-tut), and the occasional venture further afield on a couple of reporting jobs (one to the Zest Centre in Upperthorpe and another to St Mary’s Church on Bramall Lane).

The last time I undertook any cycle training was as a wide-eyed nine-year-old at Church Road Primary School in Bolton (to give you an idea of how long this was ago, I’m now 44). Back then, it was called the cycling proficiency test and it was taught to children in schools by a local bobby. But the playground of a mid-sized Bolton primary school is a far cry from Sheffield’s inner ring road.

When I first got the bike last year, I spoke to regular Tribune contributor and qualified cycle instructor David Bocking about getting some training. As it turns out he was free this week, so I decide to kill two birds with one stone and write a story about my experiences. We agree to meet at Park Hill’s South Street Kitchen at a chilly 8am, sitting down inside for a cup of tea with a side of theory first.

“I don’t really like going on the road,” I admit to David, thinking he’ll chastise me for my lack of adventure, but as it turns out he’s understanding. Dan Walker’s recent accident on the Moore Street roundabout raised awareness of the dangers many cyclists face when they ride on busy roads. However, he reassures me that while my fears are understandable, studies show the risks of cycling are outweighed by the benefits (in terms of health, fitness and general well-being) by a factor of 20. I make a mental note to remember this as the lorry is about to run me over.