It's easy, when you start your first job, to fall into car ownership by default. Instead, you can see this as the ideal time to build the car-frehabit for your adult life. 

If you're just out of school or university chances are that you're not used to having a car. If you avoid getting one now you will never miss it!

If you are job hunting

Job hunting can be difficult, so it is better to be willing to move house or flat. If you either don't have a job yet or haven't decided where to live yet you're in an even better position to consider your transport options.

When you're thinking about jobs and housing consider public transport or cycle accessibility between the two, as well as for getting to the shops, out for the night, and so on. Hopefully you will have a choice about what jobs you accept or where you live. Housing that's convenient for public transport can be more expensive, but again, that's where a bike can be really useful.

As a general rule, try to ensure that your commute, by whatever means, takes no more than one hour each way. Try out your journey - whether by bike, public transport, on foot, or some combination of these - before accepting the job or the flat.

Start as you would like to go on!

If you've already been offered a job that's near to where you currently live look into public transport options and cycling. Cycling can be a fantastic way of getting to work - it keeps you fit, it's more reliable than public transport, it doesn't mean sitting in a traffic jam, and it's virtually free. Your employer may take part in the Cycle to Work scheme. This is a government-funded scheme where you can get up to 40% off the cost of a new bike, and spread the payments over 12 or 18 months. This is a really good deal - if your employer doesn't offer it, ask them why not as they may be willing to start it especially as the administrative work is done for them by a third party. See www.cyclescheme.co.uk for more information.

If the job is too far for just cycling (for reference, a 10 mile ride should take less than an hour), or there aren't convenient bus, train, or tube routes, you may be able to combine the two. Plenty of train stations have bike parking available - you could ride to the station at one end or the other

and leave the bike there. Another option would be to get a folding bike and take it on the train or bus with you.  Or to buy two cheap bikes and have one at either end.

If you live a short distance from work – say within about three miles or so - walking to and from work can be an even better way of building exercise into your day. It is virtually zero cost – and it can become a very sociable activity as you find yourself saying hello to the same people most days.

Help going car-free

Sustrans offers loads of great information on walking and cycling, including cycle trails and dates for various sustainable transport related events. See www.sustrans.org.uk

Local Authorities often offer information on their websites about local cycle paths and public transport in your area

The Campaign for Better Transport is a fantastic website, go to www.bettertransport.org.uk

London Cycling Campaign is a great website with lots of bike related advice, and information about second hand bike shops in London. Go to www.lcc.org.uk

This page was created from adapted from material kindly prepared by Sarah Allinson