By Kate Seal <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We interviewed Kate Seal who lives in Walton Manor about why she moved from ‘car dependent’ to ‘active traveller’. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I moved to Oxford a few years ago, I became obsessed about where to park my car. Previously I had lived in a rural area where every journey I made was by car. I was shocked to discover that I had to pay for a parking permit and even more shocked to discover how difficult it was to find a parking space near to my house. I would keep watching for when a space would be available outside my house so I could move my car there. I thought I\u2019d bought the wrong house because it didn\u2019t have off-street parking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I arrived in Oxford with a lovely new red Marin bike and for a while it lingered unused. But once I\u2019d found a good parking space nearby, I just didn\u2019t want to lose my spot, so I started \u2013 very cautiously \u2013 to cycle. I was cautious because I\u2019d never cycled in a city before and it felt very unsafe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though it felt unsafe on my bike, I started doing local journeys on it and I found that I could predict my arrival time for appointments and meetings; could drop-off anywhere along my journey, and I could get some exercise \u2013 without setting out to get some exercise \u2013 which I don\u2019t enjoy. I started to like cycling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But I started to love<\/em> it when the temporary Walton Street barrier was put up. Why? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because I could stop for coffee, or a chat. With baskets on front and back, I could easily pick up something in a local shop. I loved the absence of cars and the cleaner air. I felt much safer. I find I was shopping more regularly and more locally and I love the freedom and the connection with my neighbourhood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, my car was gently rotting on the street and soon I realised I was hardly using it at all. So I sold it at the beginning of 2020 because I didn\u2019t need it. Now, if I can\u2019t cycle somewhere, I can usually get public transport, or a taxi. If that\u2019s not possible I can rent a Co-Wheels<\/a> car by the hour. I have never had a problem being able to rent one when I needed it. I reckoned I was spending about \u00a33,000 to keep an old estate car on the road. I am saving so much by not owning a car. And it removed the low-level anxiety and constant preoccupation with finding a parking space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n