On Wheels

Most of the work I do is in East London and one of my best decisions  was to scrap my van.

London is a bloody nightmare for motorised trades people. For starters, we all used to hobble around in the cheapest hunk of rust we could lay our hands on. 

Now, anything made before 2000 with a diesel engine costs £200 a day to get through the barrier. So all those cheap vans rotting in Bedford can't be used here. 30k for a compliant van is not happening, leasing is a joke, and electric vans? No chance.

Since the ULEZ has closed the rat runs, anything with an engine and 4 wheels is consigned to arterial networks and boy do they clog quickly, causing daily heart attacks for countless drivers trying to get from A to B. 

It's hellish out there if you're a local builder wanting to pop down to Screwfix for a pot of PVA. 

So imagine the looks when I whizz past stationary traffic on my pushie, with a bag of cement on the pannier rack, one over my shoulder, and some spare bits and bobs dangling from my handlebars in a plastic shopping bag.

It's bliss. Exercise, quick shopping, and chance for a natter with the builders merchant about anything other than traffic. 

I do everything from my push bike. Not an electric assisted thing, but one that requires me to rotate pedals with my legs.

I get everything delivered, and most orders are free of delivery charge. Red runs cause me headaches, as the lorry drivers are rightly paranoid about stopping on them, but there's always a workaround. Usually involves a bit of extra graft. More exercise. I'm 58 and have 2 young kids. I can outwork people half my age, you need stamina as much as strength to do landscaping work. Cycling helps massively. 

I pay no congestion charges. No petrol. No insurance. No MOT. No repairs. NADA. I have to fix the bike from time to time and I know where the mechanics are. I get in and out of London on the train and know where and when I can't use it. 

The merchants know me, they accommodate my delivery schedules and love the fact that sometimes I'm in and out of the yard like a French onion seller. I shifted a 15ft ladder from Hackney Wick through Viccie Park and out towards Well St; over the shoulder is easy with aluminium. 

I get organised, think carefully about everything, and make things as efficient as possible. I know that I've passed  transportation carbon to other companies, but it's way more efficient if they're on set runs. I've taken an entire 2.4 diesel out of the equation and put living green things into the soil regularly..

If only I could find clients who want gardens packed with plants instead of Indian sandstone, then I'd be about as carbon neutral as could be.

I know you guys out in the boondocks can't do this. Vans and cars are essential for getting around outside the city centres, but London is actually a breeze on a bike if you know how and stay safe.

But I work here. I don't need to work outside the city limits, there's way too much work and it's well paid, so the incentives are strong. Plus I get great food, usually from random neighbours. I jest not. Ramadan is amazing for food appearing from over a fence. 

Stop whingeing about the ULEZ. If you want to get on, as the old chestnut says, get on yer bike, I did and haven't looked back. 

Apart from when I overtake of course. Which, I have to say, I do frequently.