Ambassador
Dr Stewart Leitch,
GP at Northgate Medical Centre in Chester
“I gave up my car for work 2 years ago and got on my bike. I’d always cycled for leisure and thought it would be good rehab for a previously broken leg. The main reason though was the environmental impact of driving lots of short distances in a car. Since then, I’ve cycled to work every day and made home visits by bike or on foot. I live in Chester and work in a city-centre practice though our practice population is far and wide.
My GP bag clips on a bike rack, and a rainfall radar phone app helps me time showers if it’s raining – I’ve only ever got soaked twice and simply changed into scrubs at work whilst my trousers dried out! Visits take slightly longer, but I come back to surgery refreshed and energised.
I love that I can use routes that are not available to cars and sneak down little alleys to get to places when traffic is grid locked. The look on patients’ faces when I turn up on my bike is always worthwhile and it means I can truly preach what I practice. As well as keeping me fit I hope it inspires others to look at what is possible. Now I’ve given up my parking space I’m not going back.”
