I used to run but then I got old, so I jumped in the pool and turned my attention to swimming. When the pool got cold and snowboarding got painful, trust me I have the scars to prove it, I got into road cycling. I couldn't believe how far and how fast you could go on a "racer". I started cycling with local clubs increasing my social network as well as my fitness. I've been fortunate to cycle abroad - in the Alps, Mallorca, the Pyrenees and have ridden a number of charity challenges to include London to Paris in 24 hours. Cycling is important to me for many reasons but mainly for my mental health and my wellbeing. It quietens the noise of daily life and maintains a level of sanity.

I created this campaign with the help of my friends in the hope that we can make a change, to help educate drivers to ensure that myself, my partner, my friends and anyone else that rides a bike are safe on the road. I can't bear to see another cyclist be hurt by negligence and if I can influence one person or negate one accident from happening, then it was all worthwhile.

And I still reckon I've got one more snowboarding holiday in me.

On and off I have ridden bikes all my life. During the last 10 years, this has increasingly been riding on the road for commuting, health, and leisure. Amongst the many positive experiences, I have had on a bike, not a day goes past that doesn’t contain a negative experience of sharing the road with cars, be this from casual carelessness to outright deliberate aggression.

When Jo asked for help to do something about it, to make a difference to the perception of people who ride bikes, I jumped at the chance.

Having spent 30 years deciding what colour shirts people should wear I thought it might be time to do something worthwhile, so when Jo came to me with the idea of starting a Social Media campaign to humanise cyclists to help protect them on the road – as the general manager of a local cycling club – I thought it a great idea. I, myself, have cycled for 8 years, initially for the health benefits, but within the club for the camaraderie. I also started commuting on my bike during lockdown, and almost everytime I am out on the road in a group we get close passed and hassled. I understand there are bad cyclists, just as there are poor motorists but with some recognition and education I believe we can improve the relationship between the two, and make the roads a safer, more pleasant place to be, for all involved.

I have been cycling for as long as I can remember, be that commuting, for fun or for health reasons and I have always encouraged my family, friends and work colleagues to cycle too. What I noticed was whilst they could see how cycling could be fun, a great way to get about and a really easy way to get fit, they were put off by the hostile environment cyclists often face when on our roads. Having experienced my own fair share of accidents and near misses, I could understand this is not some irrational fear.

When Jo approached me to help with a campaign that was focused on humanising how people who cycle are seen and encouraging the right behaviours from road users to make our roads safer and friendlier, I was delighted to get involved. I firmly believe that with the right dialogue and engagement across all road users, we can remove some of the barriers to getting more people cycling and improve the experience on our roads for everyone.