After starting work as Retirement Living Housing Manager at Sanctuary’s Roman Ridge scheme in Sheffield in 2021, Simon Ford quickly identified an opportunity for a significant change to his commute. Having previously spent hours in his car managing various housing schemes across Derbyshire, working at Roman Ridge reduced Simon’s need to travel. As a result, Simon sold his car and bought an e-bike, making crossing the hills of Sheffield on a daily basis a happy reality.
Over the last two and a half years, Simon has travelled 3000 miles on his e-bike, clocking in 12 miles per day on his most efficient route - but with the Peak District on his doorstep, the temptation to take a detour is sometimes irresistible, as shown below.
As an advocate for e-bikes in his scheme and beyond, he's been able to encourage two other colleagues to take advantage of a scheme in Sheffield offering free one-month e-bike loans, and they have been able to commute by bike throughout that month.
It isn't always so beautiful, or so hassle-free: Simon lives in a low-traffic neighbourhood, which means his local area includes cycle lanes and other infrastructure that makes it easy to ride about, but the residential area around his scheme is not so well-provided-for, and so he does have to keep his wits about him to remain safe. The weather is often a challenge as the nights draw in - but with the right kit, Simon is far from regretting his decision.
Regardless of the challenges, Simon isn't looking back: "I feel more awake and more 'with it' when I get to the office now. I'm more patient, because I've not been stuck in traffic, and I feel better prepared to deal with the challenges that hit me when I've transformed into manager-man from my bike gear."
