‘I moved house to ditch my car and escape the fuel price surge’

It’s fair to say that moving from a city in the East Midlands to one of the most remote places in the Scottish Highlands is not a well-trodden path.

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

Ms Christie loved her new surroundings but after renting a small cottage miles from the nearest shops, the 57-year-old said she had become increasingly dependent on her car, especially 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 drive,” she said. “It was part of daily life.”

Then, during the first Covid lockdown six years ago, when the country’s roads were almost empty, Ms Christie joined thousands of others who took up cycling. It was a means of transportation that he fell in love with, not only to explore the area, but also to stay fit and improve his mental health.

He even became a local cycling coach for the British Cycling-supported Breeze programme.

But after lockdown measures were eased, the main road he used to cycle to reach Muir of Ord, the nearest village, became busier with cars. He said it often becomes dangerous because there are no bike lanes and it’s not a winding route.

The lack of a safe route and public transport, combined with the increase in fuel prices and some inheritance money, caused him to explore his life position.

“After 23 years of living in my rented house, I decided to ditch my car and move to Muir of Ord to buy a house so I could enjoy safer cycling,” he said.

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

Just a few months after moving into her new home in December, Ms Christie ended the £156-a-month lease on her Skoda Kamiq. He now uses his bike to go everywhere; From local shops to the bus and train station to get to work or further afield.

Last week the average price of a liter of petrol in the UK reached 159.7 pence. Fuel prices have increased since the Iran war; The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil passes, was virtually blocked.

More people are encouraged to cycle in their communities.

150 community cycling projects have been funded across the UK since 2019, and British Cycling has hopes the government will deliver a further 250 projects with new funding.

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

Independent It also revealed that the number of cycle journeys taken per person in England last year has remained stable since the pandemic.

“Having to move from home to cycle safely and the lack of cycle lanes even where I am is a sad reflection of the lack of priority given to cycling in our country, I am lucky to be able to do something about it,” Ms Christie said.

“That said, I would encourage everyone to consider ways to give up their cars for walking. It may take some imagination and planning, but it will certainly help ensure your health and bank balance are not at the mercy of rising fuel prices due to conflicts around the world.”