Like many of us I have a green guilt. I know that we are facing an environmental crisis. I fear for the planet, I worry about the impact of modern living on nature and the climate crisis feels increasingly current. Yet, I also drive a car, enjoy occasional air travel and I don’t always live the most environmentally conscious life.

George Monbiot, the journalist and green campaigner, talks about all of us being either a hypocrite or a cynic about the dangers of the climate crisis. He says: “The alternative to hypocrisy isn’t moral purity but cynicism. Give me hypocrisy any day.” He implores us all to try and do better on a personal level while arguing government and industry needs regulation and significant change in behaviour. If we all try and do better that will influence policy makers and help build a critical mass for change.

I am member of the SHSC sustainable development group which is grappling with how we create a net zero organisation. Themes we are working on vary from getting treatment right first time, creating more environmentally friendly buildings and reducing carbon usage when travelling.

22 September was World Free Car Day so I agreed to try and reduce my car usage for the week leading up to the day. I had five days when I needed to be on various sites throughout Sheffield and decided to try and avoid using the car and get on my electric bike for the week. I purchased an electric bike a few years ago on the NHS scheme that means a good reduction in price as there’s a tax incentive. When I first got the bike I did use it quite a lot but winter weather and the attraction of the comfort of a car has meant that in the last year I have only occasionally used the bike.

So Sunday night I dusted off my bike and made sure the battery was properly charged. I checked out my diary to see where I was working and committed to using my bike for the week ahead.

The Monday morning was beautiful September sunshine. I slept well and woke feeling inspired and ready to go. Cycling means I need to set off 15 minutes earlier to get into work on time. I set off from Broomhill at 8.15am heading to Distington House. I use a route that avoids traffic where possible and zipped into work arriving at 8.50am. The morning sunshine made the ride a pretty nice experience. I had a meeting at Longley in the afternoon which is just a 15 minute cycle from Distington, it was lovely to get some fresh air in the middle of the day. At the end of the day I cycled the five miles home at 5.30pm and arrived home feeling pretty good at 6.15pm. Day one – a success!

Day two wasn’t so good. I had an 8.30am meeting so decided to sign up online at home and then cycle to work at the Longley Centre at 9am after the meeting for another appointment at 9.30am. I went to switch on the computer at 8am only to realise I had left my computer at the Longley Centre the day before. I think I had got distracted by finding my bike helmet and battery and had left my laptop on the desk. So on Tuesday I needed to get in the car and drive to arrive in time for my first meeting of the day.

Day three was better. I made sure my bike battery was charged and cycled into Distington House, the morning weather was grey but it still felt good to do the four mile cycle and arrive into work with a nice bit of fresh air and having done some gentle exercise, the electric bike is great at taking away the struggle of the Sheffield hills. A busy day at work and good cycle home in the sunshine. Home at 5.45pm and ready to take the dog out for a walk.

Day four was a shorter cycle ride to the Michael Carlisle Centre (MCC), it’s just two miles from home and I really should always ride the bike when I’m at MCC. There’s good cycle parking (there’s good secure cycle parking at many SHSC buildings now). I ended the day discussing a reading group I am starting on Burbage ward and left for home at 6pm, I was home in 15 minutes.

The last day of the challenge was Friday and I had a day at the Longley Centre. It’s the longest and most unpleasant cycle ride I do in the city. I have worked out a route that uses a few cycle paths that avoids cycling on the busy ring road. This is slightly longer than the most direct route but feels nicer. The final bit of the cycle is up Herries Road and that feels like a mountain stage of the Tour de France even on an electric bike. I arrived in work feeling pretty good. The cycle ride home is easier as it’s mostly downhill. I arrived home at 6pm.

My reflections on the week were that I need to be a bit more organised to cycle, the gentle exercise is a good way to start the day, I slept better during the week which I put down to the morning daylight, gentle exercise and time to unwind while cycling home. I have two months before I retire, my 35 years in the NHS are coming to an end. I will try and cycle more in my last few weeks of working. Once I retire I will aim to use the bike more for cycling around the city.

My cycling only makes a small difference to reducing my carbon footprint and I know I will continue to be a hypocrite with my environmental impact, but I am determined not be a cynic.