“I moved to give up my car and escape soaring fuel prices”

Going from a town in the East Midlands to one of the most remote places in the Scottish Highlands is, it’s fair to say, a road little traveled.

But, drawn by the beautiful scenery and friendly community, that’s exactly what Joolz Christie did, swapping views of suburban Leicester streets with seals in the Beauly Firth, near Inverness.

Ms Christie loved her new surroundings, but after renting a small chalet miles from the nearest shops, the 57-year-old became increasingly dependent on her car, particularly after the birth of her children, now aged 18 and 20.

“If I was going shopping, seeing someone or taking the girls out, I would use the car,” she said. “It was part of everyday life.”

Then, during the first Covid lockdown six years ago, when the country’s roads were almost empty, Ms Christie joined thousands of people to take up cycling – a mode of transport she fell in love with, not only to explore the area, but also to get fit and improve her mental health.

She even became a local cycling coach for the Breeze program supported by British Cycling.

But following the easing of lockdown measures, the main route she used to cycle to reach the nearest village, Muir of Ord, became busier with cars. With no bike path and a winding route, she said it often became too dangerous to take.

The lack of a safe route and public transportation, combined with rising fuel prices and inheritance money, led her to explore her living situation.

“After 23 years in the house I was renting, I decided to move to Muir of Ord to buy a house so I could leave my car behind and cycle safely,” she said.

“It may seem like a drastic decision, and I miss some things about the old house, but I’m closer to the community here and I was able to stop using my car.”

Just months after moving into her new home in December, Ms Christie ended her £156-a-month lease on her Skoda Kamiq. She now uses her bike to get around everywhere; from local shops to the bus and train station to reach work or more distant places.

It comes as the average price of a liter of petrol in the UK hit 159.7p last week. Fuel prices have soared since the war in Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil usually passes, effectively blocked.

More and more people are encouraged to cycle in their communities.

Since 2019, 150 community cycling projects have been funded across the UK – and British Cycling hopes the government will deliver 250 more with new funding.

However, the efforts were hampered by the previous Conservative government’s decision to cut funding for its cycling and walking strategy by £200m – a move the Court of Appeal ruled was unlawful last year.

The Independent also revealed last year that the number of cycling trips made per person in England had remained stagnant since the pandemic.

“Having to move to cycle safely and the lack of cycle paths even where I am is a sad reflection of the lack of priority we give to cycling in our country. I’m just lucky to be able to do something,” Ms Christie said.

“Despite this, I encourage everyone to consider ways to ditch their car and walk. It may take a little imagination and planning, but it certainly helps your health and your bank balance to not be at the mercy of rising fuel prices due to conflicts around the world.”

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