Wayne B has been cycling from his home to Ashford International train station every day for the last 15 years. After moving 5 years ago, his commute has stretched to 8 miles a day in Ashford alone, before he gets to London, where he cycles a further four miles to his office.
For Wayne, cycling started as a practical solution when he and his wife moved from East London to Ashford while expecting their first child. With only one family car and buses not running early enough, cycling simply made sense and quickly became a habit.
Wayne said: “The first week was tough, but once you’ve done it for a while, you learn the best and safest routes, and it just becomes part of your daily routine.”
His route mainly sticks to quieter roads, avoiding the busier stretches around Ashford.
Wayne doesn’t just cycle for commuting, he’s also taken part in numerous long-distance events, including the iconic RideLondon, and has even completed a 200-mile ride in a single day.
For others thinking of ditching the car, Wayne recommends starting small: “Try it for a couple of days a week and see how you get on. You don’t need the most expensive kit to start, just make sure you’ve got decent lights, a good helmet, and waterproofs for the winter. I quickly learnt that the most expensive equipment isn’t always the best. There are helmets out there for hundreds of pounds but my go to is my £40 Specialized Tactic helmet which was found the safest helmet in a study by Imperial College London.”
Aside from saving on fuel and parking, Wayne enjoys the fitness benefits. Cycling every day keeps him active, and he always feels the difference when he’s not riding regularly. “It’s a win-win; you stay healthy, save money, and avoid the stress of parking.”
Wayne encourages anyone considering cycling to work to speak to their employers about cycle-to-work schemes, which can make getting a bike more affordable. At his own workplace, he champions the scheme and has inspired colleagues to take up cycling, helping others see the benefits of commuting by bike, not just for personal health and finances, but for the wider impact of sustainability and traffic reduction.
Wayne is hopeful that with more people taking to cycling in Ashford, infrastructure will continue to develop. “The more people that cycle, the more support and facilities we’ll all see in future to make it easier and safer for everyone to get from A to B on two wheels.”