A curious thing happened when I started to blog and tweet about making Brighton and Hove’s streets safer for cycling.

People seemed to think I was a cyclist. They started telling me techy things about equipment and different gearing systems. "Sarah’s a cyclist" a friend said as a man in Lycra described a difficult ride he’d been on.

But the thing is I'm not a cyclist. I’m sure it’s a wonderful sport but I personally have no interest in it. I've never worn Lycra and I’m not sure what those clippy things on pedals are for. I can't think of anything worse than riding up a huge hill on a country road and a 10-mile round trip is a major achievement. I love my e-bike and know it has a belt drive rather than a chain but that's where my technical knowledge ends. For me, cycling is not a sport but a means of getting from A to B. I use my bike when the journey is only a mile or 2 because it's the right tool for the job.

I have a mild neurological condition that makes walking tiring. On the bike I get to enjoy the world around me and keep healthy at the same time. I use my bike to ferry the children around. We can quickly get where we want and not pay for parking. I use my bike when it's just me running errands because I don't need my big family car for one person. I use my bike when I've been at my desk too long or when life feels difficult, to feel the wind on my face, smell the sea and grab a coffee.

I don't like riding on busy roads, weaving in and out of queuing traffic or tackling a hill with a lorry behind me. I would never ride on a 60mph road and a car passing at 30mph can feel scary if it’s too close.

I wouldn't cycle round a big roundabout or navigate a busy junction because I just don’t feel safe. I want to get from A to B easily and safely, using the right tool for the job. I know a lot of people who would love to get about by bike if only they felt safe.

The key is to have a network of well designed, protected cycle lanes that take people where they need to go. People on bikes need to be separated from traffic and pedestrians need to be given their own space. I want to feel safe when I get around, and that’s why I’m a volunteer for Bricycles which campaigns for safer streets for cycling.

I’m really pleased that in January, work will begin to extend the westbound cycle lane along Kingsway in Hove. It means people on bikes will be able to get direct from Fourth Avenue to Hove Lagoon along the road without the detour behind King Alfred Leisure Centre. The pavements by the shops will be widened, and more disabled parking spaces added. Crossings along the whole stretch will be made safer for pedestrians and easier to cross for disabled people and those with pushchairs. The current cycle lane will be made one-way, making it safer for people to walk along the pavement. The Kingsway improvements may only be one more mile of protected space for people on bikes and there is lots left for Bricycles to campaign for.

But every mile of cycle infrastructure brings us closer to a truly accessible and safe cycle network for Brighton and Hove. Eventually other non-cyclists just like me will be able to get around by bike too.

Sarah Forbes

Bricycles