Motoring around town

FOR Paudie Barry, walking or driving into Cork City for meetings was not convenient.

“I live on the Lee Road in Cork, which is an hour’s walk into the city,” says Paudie, 44, a self-employed surveyor.

“So, I bought an electric bike in January and, now, I can’t understand why the rest of the population isn’t using an electric bike.”

Electric bicycles have a battery-powered motor to assist your pedalling. Pedalling is optional but the bike will perform better and faster when you pedal. Recharge the battery for a few hours and off you go again.

“I use the bike now for short car journeys and leave the car behind, for instance, going to the shops, the supermarket, to lunch, to meetings,” says Paudie, who cycles for a hobby, regularly kite surfs, does indoor rock climbing and grows his own vegetables.

“I’m cycling a lot more and feel like I’ve lost some weight. I’m also more connected to the environment around me. It’s more sociable — I can stop and talk to people who I see on the street. You can’t do that in a car.

“Where I live is just beyond the comfort zone for commuting easily. And I can travel faster with the bike in traffic than if I was in the car.

“With the bike, I don’t have an issue with parking and there are no costs, such as parking, petrol, or tax. And I don’t arrive at meetings in a ball of sweat.”

Because an element of pedalling is involved, use of the electric bike can confer some of the benefits of ‘ordinary’ cycling, such as building strength and muscle tone, improving general muscle function, building stamina and improving cardio-vascular fitness.

Research has shown that cycling just 20 miles a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 50%.

“I’m saving money on petrol — I feel better, happier and fitter,” says Paudie.