Moving from a city in the East Midlands to one of the most remote locations in the Scottish Highlands is, it’s fair to say, not a well-trodden path.
But, lured by the beautiful landscape and friendly community, that is 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 cottage miles away from the nearest shops, the 57-year-old she was growing more and more reliant on her car, particularly following the birth of her children, now aged 18 and 20.
“If I was going shopping, seeing anyone or taking the girls out I’d use the car,” she said. “It was part of everyday life.”
Then, during the first Covid lockdown six years ago, as the country’s roads became near-empty, Ms Christie joined thousands in taking up cycling – a mode of transport she fell in love with, not just for exploring the region, but to get fit and improve her mental health.
She even became a local cycling trainer for British Cycling-backed programme Breeze.
But following the easing of lockdown measures, the main road she cycled along to reach the nearest village, Muir of Ord, became busier with cars. With no cycling lanes and a winding route, she said it often became too dangerous to take.
The lack of a safe route and public transport, combined with the rise in fuel prices and some inheritance money, left her exploring her living position.
“After 23 years in the house I rented, I decided to move to Muir of Ord to buy a house so I could give up my car and enjoy safer cycling,” she said.
“It might seem a drastic move, and I do 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 a few months after moving to her new house in December, Ms Christie ended her £156-a-month lease deal for her Skoda Kamiq. She now uses her bicycle to get everywhere; from the local shops to the bus and train station to reach work or places further afield.
It comes as last week the average price of a litre of petrol in the UK reached 159.7p. Fuel prices have surged since the Iran war, with the Strait of Hormuz, where 20 per cent of the world’s oil usually passed, effectively blockade.
More people are being encouraged to cycle in their communities.
Since 2019, 150 community cycling projects have been funded across the UK – and there are hopes from British Cycling that the government will deliver 250 more with new funding.
However, efforts have been hampered by a decision by the previous Tory government to cut £200m of funding for its cycling and walking strategy – a move the Court of Appeal ruled last year was unlawful.
The Independent also revealed last year that the number of cycle trips made per person in England had remained stagnant since the pandemic.
“Having to move house to cycle safely and the lack of cycling routes, even where I am, is a sad reflection of the lack of priority we give to cycling in our country, I’m just lucky I could do something about it,” Ms Christie said.
“Despite this, I’d encourage everyone to consider ways to give up their car for walking. It can just take a bit of imagination and planning, but it certainly helps your health and bank balance not to be at the mercy of rising fuel prices from conflicts around the world.”
