Councillor pedals his way to fitness as car is left at home

A GLOUCESTERSHIRE councillor has lost five stone since December when he decided to take up cycling as his main form of transport.

Stroud district councillor Robin Layfield, 52, says he has only used his car 40 times over the last eight months.

He used to cycle a lot when he was younger but over the years he had developed quite a sedentary lifestyle. But now he has rediscovered the benefits of cycling and wants to normalise it for other people.

The Community Independents councillor says cycling is a form of transport that anyone can take up. It is a healthy way to get around, has little impact on the environment and can save people a lot of money.

“I cycled a lot when I was younger, particularly when I was at university. I wasn’t a hardcore cyclist but I would cycle 12 miles to work. That was when I was reasonably fit and a lot younger,” Cllr Layfield said.

“But I haven’t cycled much since the mid-2000s. I had different priorities. I have a sedentary job, I sit behind a desk, I’m a freelance web developer and to be honest, I’ve just needed the car when going to council meetings.”

However, his Rodborough Parish

Council colleague Alick Miskin encouraged him to take up cycling again.

“Alick Miskin is a very vocal cycling advocate and at every meeting he would ask me why don’t you cycle? He said any journey under ten miles he will do on his bike. Driving is all about speed and it’s a knee-jerk habit.”

So Cllr Layfield decided to get back to cycling and lead by example. As vice-chairman of the environment committee he says he is very committed to environmental policies and exploring what Stroud District Council can do to make it easier for people to walk and cycle.

“As a new year’s resolution I decided to use a car as little as possible. I accept there are journeys out of town or to the recycling at the tip. But I’ve managed to keep it under 40 car journeys over the last eight months. That’s a couple a week.”

He bought an electric bike alternating between his regular bike. His electric bike has racked up 430 miles since he got it and is very useful for getting around in a hilly place like Stroud.

“I accept that not everyone can give up needing to use a car but for many journeys it is entirely possible and e-bikes just eat up the miles.”

> Cycling since December has seen Cllr Robin Layfield lose five stone