Why I Love . . . cycling in the city

I bought my bicycle in 2015 to relieve the stress bus timetables and traffic delays can induce when you have an audition, rehearsal or social event to attend to on time in an afternoon. All I knew was that I wanted a red bike and she would be called Judy, a homage to Judy Garland and her ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz.

It’s a second-hand bike, kitted out with a basket and a strong lock. Since then, cycling has become so much a part of my everyday life in the city, I don’t know how I managed to thrive without it. I live in Glasnevin and it’s a 15-minute cycle from my house to the city centre. No need to wait on a bus, sit in traffic or pay taxi fares. I pop on my helmet and go.

I'm rehearsing the lead female role of Noeleen in the upcoming Copper Face Jacks: The Musical by Paul Howard, and being able to cycle the 25 minutes from my front door to the rehearsal space each day has been a time and stress saver. I sometimes struggle to keep an exercise routine with an ever-changing schedule, so cycling helps maintain a certain level of fitness, too. I'm enjoying the payoff the uphill cycle to Artane is providing – it's a real cardio workout every morning.

Pitfalls

While I love my cycle time, it’s not without its pitfalls. The cycle home takes me through Upper Drumcondra Road and it’s not a safe cycle area, with no designated cycle lane for a lot of it, hectic traffic junctions and heavy traffic. That’s why cycling in Dublin without a helmet, hi-vis or lights is crazy. Taking the proper safety precautions is vital, and I would urge everyone to be safe when they’re on the saddle. Once you are kitted out, it really is a fantastic mode of transport in Dublin. It’s fun, it keeps you fit, it’s so convenient and I would recommend it to anyone.