Daoud tells us why cycling is the best way to get around for him and why you should give it a go

Daoud is 29 years old and has lived in Leeds for the last 10 years. In June 2023, he moved to Armley. He goes everywhere with his bike using it for his daily commute into work, as well as for his everyday needs. He tells us a bit about why cycling is the best way to get around for him and why you should give it a go.

Audio-described (AD) version

What kind of trips do you do by bike?  

I go most places by bike. I really like doing it. I use my bike to commute to work and cycle from Armley into Leeds every day. I also use it to visit my friends, go into town, travel around the city, run errands and go to the shops.  

 

How long is your commute into work? 

It takes me between 15 and 20 minutes to cycle into the city centre depending on what route I take and how much of a rush I'm in. It's reliable.

 

What are the benefits of cycling into Leeds? 

I don't have to worry about traffic or anything. I use the Cycle Superhighway to commute to work. It's a segregated bike path that runs between Leeds and Bradford, although I only use it between Armley and Leeds. It's great, just completely separate from road traffic and makes my commute so much easier and straightforward.  

 

Has cycling made a difference to you? 

Cycling's had a positive impact on my life. It's reliable as a way of getting around. I always know how long it's going to take me to get somewhere. It's also flexible, because if I cycle to work, I can then run errands in town on my lunch break going to a few places that I might not be able to walk to.  

I think it's also a really nice way to start the day. When I get to work, I feel really good for having just done that little bit of exercise and fresh air.

I think it's also a really nice way to start the day. When I get to work, I feel really good for having just done that little bit of exercise and fresh air.

What would you say to anyone thinking about cycling? 

I would tell other people that it's just really convenient. There are loads of other reasons to do it, but I think the best one is that it just makes my life simple and easy. I can get to the shops or visit my friends quickly. I can just get to where I'm going, do what I need to do and head home whenever I like. I wouldn't do it if it wasn't just the easiest way of getting around Leeds.  

 

Why do you love cycling so much? 

It means I can get where I want, when I want. And I can leave whenever I want. I can string lots of journeys together, get lots of things done, all while having a nice time and getting fresh air. 

 

Are there are any other benefits? 

There are loads. It's really cheap. My daily commute is free, other than the cost of fuelling myself. And it means I've built some exercise into my day which keeps me fit and healthy.  

Another benefit is a really strong sense of self-sufficiency and independence. A bike is quite a simple machine, and I can repair a lot of things on it. And that's quite a nice feeling of being in control. 

 

Do you ever find everyday things like shopping difficult?  

I have a bike trailer. I use it for when the basket on the back of my bike isn't quite big enough. I’ve used it for hauling big pots of paint when I moved house. I also use it for big shops. You can carry quite a lot. It's got a maximum weight of 40 kilos which is a pretty big shop. The trailer gives me more flexibility and more opportunities to use my bike, which I really love. 

 

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