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A short commute like that is not ideal for an ICE, it will never get hot for a long time. You may find exhausts rot faster and fuel economy will be poor as it's running cold. An EV would seem to be an ideal choice here.
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You could actually get into 2023 Citroen Ami for £6k :-)
But ignoring that, I'd actually be tempted by a Renault Twizy. Be OK for 2 miles surely, even in the winter?.
A bit more sensible though still perhaps a bit of fun to drive, how about a Smart Fourfour (electric)?. Here is a 2020 one owner example on Autotrader for under £6.5k,
202409134012906
Couple of VW e-up's within price range on Autotrader too.
Edited by badbusdriver on 07/12/2024 at 19:55
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The most sensible answer is to buy a bike and have £5k+ available to spend on other things.
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Two miles is nothing on a bike.
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The most sensible answer is to buy a bike and have £5k+ available to spend on other things.
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Two miles is nothing on a bike.
And so do I. Unless they are medically incapacitated, it makes no sense at all to drive. I used to cycle into work most days until retirement aged 65; a mere 4 miles, part of which was a hill providing the medically desirable daily cardiorespiratory exertion. My 50 yr old canvas Karrimor saddlebag was sufficient for any work related materials. If Brits used bikes like the continentals do, they might be slimmer and healthier with a better life expectancy.
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I biked a two mile commute for nearly thirty years. I can state it was warmer than driving in the Winter (the car never had time to warm up) and pleasant at all other times of the year.
I'll confess to driving, or getting a lift with the missus if it was tipping it down in the morning, but decent clothing would protect. I cycled home often in the rain, but I could get changed when I got there. Suitable clothing was also necessary for walking the dogs and they'd want to go out all weathers!
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<< I used to cycle into work most days until retirement aged 65; >>
So did my father, on one of those solid green Raleighs with hub gears ... He stopped in 1970, but kept the bike at home, riding it stationary on a stand for exercise.
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Any bike would do but if stowing it at work is an issue a Brompton would be ideal.
Standard front pannier should be more than big enough for the cassock etc....
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When I lived in Cambridge I cycled about three miles each day to work in all weathers. But the city catered for cyclists better than most and matters may have improved even more in thirty years. I'm not so sure these days, more traffic, motorists more hurried, much quieter cars (even before EV). Often one could hear a car before seeing it. I enjoy motorcycling as I can keep up with the flow, often ahead of it...
So if pedal-power is not attractive maybe a Twist and Go scooter? You can go up to 125cc on L plates.
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I live in Northampton and two close friends who are keen cyclists have recently been involved in accidents when out cycling .
One who was only a few hundred yards from home was hit from behind throwing him into the air like a rag doll. He was air ambulanced to a trauma centre after suffering 9 broken ribs and a punctured lung.
The other happened when a motorist changed lanes suddenly causing the cyclist to fall off breaking a femur and wrist.
Both cases, no follow up from the police and recovery times running into months.
Maybe different if you live in a town like Milton Keynes with lots of cycle ways .
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I live in Northampton and two close friends who are keen cyclists have recently been involved in accidents when out cycling .
One who was only a few hundred yards from home was hit from behind throwing him into the air like a rag doll. He was air ambulanced to a trauma centre after suffering 9 broken ribs and a punctured lung.
The other happened when a motorist changed lanes suddenly causing the cyclist to fall off breaking a femur and wrist.
Appears that you're trying to make out that cycling is dangerous. :'(
People have crashes and accidents in cars too. One occured over the past few days involving a footballer.
www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/13269325/mic...y
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cp83knd6w23o
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The most sensible answer is to buy a bike and have £5k+ available to spend on other things.
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Two miles is nothing on a bike.
Two miles for me is nothing to walk - 30 minutes. Great exercise, and free (well, almost - just need a bit extra food as fuel). Cycling is fine in good weather, not so much in bad weather, particularly in high winds, in slippery conditions and in heavy traffic, especially in the dark.
The other downside for cycling is that you get to work all hot and sweaty, and thus need a shower and a change of clothes, which isn't actually possible at every workplace, and obviously a sweaty worker isn't exactly desirable!
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The other downside for cycling is that you get to work all hot and sweaty, and thus need a shower and a change of clothes, which isn't actually possible at every workplace, and obviously a sweaty worker isn't exactly desirable!
Obviously it depends on time of day, distance and terrain but a couple of miles from Euston to the office in the morning never had me hot and sweaty. Might have eased off a bit at height of summer but no real issue in shirt sleeves.
Put a bit more vim in on the way home and arrive at Euston warmed through but not too bad.
Like others if it was hammering down in the morning I might put the Brommy on the bus. In the evening I'd put up with being wet. Given decent clothing I'd be dry by the time I was home.
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The most sensible answer is to buy a bike and have £5k+ available to spend on other things.I wholeheartedly agree with this. Two miles is nothing on a bike.
Two miles for me is nothing to walk - 30 minutes. Great exercise, and free (well, almost - just need a bit extra food as fuel). Cycling is fine in good weather, not so much in bad weather, particularly in high winds, in slippery conditions and in heavy traffic, especially in the dark.
The other downside for cycling is that you get to work all hot and sweaty, and thus need a shower and a change of clothes, which isn't actually possible at every workplace, and obviously a sweaty worker isn't exactly desirable!
One doesn't necessarily get hot and sweaty on a two mile ride. If it's up a dirty great big mountain, then maybe. But for a short ride, which should take no more than 15 minutes, then I don't think so.
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The most sensible answer is to buy a bike and have £5k+ available to spend on other things.I wholeheartedly agree with this. Two miles is nothing on a bike.
Two miles for me is nothing to walk - 30 minutes. Great exercise, and free (well, almost - just need a bit extra food as fuel). Cycling is fine in good weather, not so much in bad weather, particularly in high winds, in slippery conditions and in heavy traffic, especially in the dark.
The other downside for cycling is that you get to work all hot and sweaty, and thus need a shower and a change of clothes, which isn't actually possible at every workplace, and obviously a sweaty worker isn't exactly desirable!
One doesn't necessarily get hot and sweaty on a two mile ride. If it's up a dirty great big mountain, then maybe. But for a short ride, which should take no more than 15 minutes, then I don't think so.
If it's very cold, you have to layer up, which can easily cause you sweat underneath it all (not everyone can afford a £500 cycling outfit that would cope), and in the height of summer, well...especially if the rider weren't that fit to start with.
I would argue though that it's the danger / pollution that is of more importance these days. Very few areas have decent dedicated cycle paths away from the road and pedestrians, and with all those extra 'man in van' deliver drivers et al all day long, I wouldn't want to be cycling in most major towns/cities in the rush hour /winter darkness.
When I'm out of cycle rides (almost always from late spring round to mid autumn - better weather/longer daylight hours --> longer rides possible / nicer riding conditions), I avoid the really busy / dangerous / polluted roads as much as possible (not exactly enjoyable) even if that is a far longer (but more enjoyable) route.
But then I'm cycling for pleasure (including fitness) to see the countryside, not commuting all year round.
Note also that many people need to bring a decent amount of things to work, which might not be possible / a pain when cycling. Or use their car for work trips, which obviously isn't possible for someone on a bicycle.
I still think that walking would be fine, assuming that the journey isn't along country lanes or a dual carriageway /motorway (no footpath) in the middle of nowhere or right aside a heavily polluted road (understandable).
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The most sensible answer is to buy a bike and have £5k+ available to spend on other things.
I wholeheartedly agree with this. Two miles is nothing on a bike.
Two miles for me is nothing to walk - 30 minutes. Great exercise, and free (well, almost - just need a bit extra food as fuel). Cycling is fine in good weather, not so much in bad weather, particularly in high winds, in slippery conditions and in heavy traffic, especially in the dark.
The other downside for cycling is that you get to work all hot and sweaty, and thus need a shower and a change of clothes, which isn't actually possible at every workplace, and obviously a sweaty worker isn't exactly desirable!
I used to do a 2.5 mile trip to work on my bike and never had an issue with being hot or sweaty and I'm certainly not the fitest of people.
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