With The British Cycling Federation pushing for the Government to invest more in our two-wheel infrastructure, there has never been a better time to follow in the footsteps of our European cousins and lead a healthier, more outdoorsy lifestyle.
And here at Boxx, we’re doing just that…..
Our directors Dean Burgin and James Green are already cycling fans with all the kit, and can often be spotted out on a Sunday morning clocking up the miles in lycra and searching for a suitable place to stop for a coffee break.
As well as being lovers of cycling, they also have a passion for ‘proper’ coffee, and they feel high street chains just don’t cut the mustard. It was their love of the bean that led to their blossoming relationship with Bogota Coffee Company, a relatively new business at The Hub here in Milton Keynes.
Always keen to support small businesses in general, they were determined to continue to drink Bogota’s highest quality authentic coffee even after their closest outlet closed. So they decided to follow Bogota’s lead and purchase some Dutchie-style bikes to get them to the flagship coffee house quickly and easily!
So, why the Dutchie…?
Fifty years ago, car-related death rates in The Netherlands were extremely high, so, as a country dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle, they took the decision to give priority to bikes and pedestrian-only areas. A whole culture has now developed around their chosen style of bikes, which are durable and designed for everyday use as well as easy to ride, safe and fun. And of course, they feature that fantastic iconic design!
When riding a Dutchie, you’re more upright than many other styles of bike, particularly racers, and riding to the coffee house has given Dean and James a new perspective on cycling – and also made them realise that Milton Keynes is perfect for it!
Not only is it relatively flat, with wide open spaces, but the city has a Redway system of cycle paths too. The legendary shopping centre (which is over a mile walk from one end to the other and back) is not easy to accomplish in a lunch-break either – so being on a bike certainly makes tackling the busy, sprawl of the city centre much easier and more enjoyable. Not to mention bikes being far easier to park!
Who wouldn’t want that…?
Having had our eyes opened to the possibilities, we now want to see a revolution in Milton Keynes….!
Driverless cars, known as shuttle pods have already been trialled in the city. Next we want MK businesses to get on board and invest in company bikes that staff can use to have more options at lunchtimes, make healthier choices for client visits and encourage other businesses to join in as well.
In a nod to the coffee house that first started using these bikes in MK, our bikes feature not only our logo but also that of Bogota Coffee and we are proud to be taking the phrase ‘Go Dutch’ to a new level!
So who’s going to join us….?
Even if cycling’s not your thing, you can help spread the word on twitter. Let’s see if we can get these hashtags trending, here in Milton Keynes and beyond!
#GoDutch
#DutchieProject
#ChooseCycling