Biker's diary: Reporter Christine Fleming discovers cycling means avoiding being stuck in traffic jams when doing the school run (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Biker's diary: Reporter Christine Fleming discovers cycling means avoiding being stuck in traffic jams when doing the school run

7:40am Sunday 29th August 2010 in

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This week GCSE results came out so what better time to take the bike on an assignment, check out morning rush hour traffic and cycle the school run.

Now it has been a while since I was at school, and when I was a pupil I thought bikes were evil. But times have changed and so have I so on Tuesday morning I got up early, suited up in my hi-vis vest and helmet and took to the road for a 9am school start.

Cycling through Twickenham and Richmond on the way to Christ’s School I was struck by how less frustrating traffic was - instead of being stuck in tailbacks anxiously drumming my fingers I just cycled down the side of cars avoiding queues.

But crossing Richmond Bridge was not easy - with narrow lanes and buses passing at times it meant I had to dismount and walk along the pavement instead.

The best bit this week though was that as my confidence grew I felt less worried and even when I lost control and ended up in the wrong lane of traffic I remained relatively calm. Oh, and I got my job done in double quick time.

Instructor John’s quote of the week: “I believe that the cyclised city is the civilised city” - Boris Johnson.

For more cycling tips visit smartertravelrichmond.org