Meet the unicycle commuter

7:30am Saturday 9th August 2008

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A HEALTH worker has come up with a novel way to save money on travel costs and help the environment...by unicycling to work.

Trainee biomedical scientist Gerard Little, who works at Southend Hospital, creates quite a stir when he gets into work in the morning.

Gerard, a member of Southend Juggling Club, first started unicycling before starting at Leeds University.

Now he owns three unicycles of various sizes. He has also branched out into the circus skills with juggling and fire eating.

Gerard said: “My sister bought me juggling balls as a present when I was a kid and then my dad made me some stilts.

“I was invited to join the university circus club and spent three years learning more skills.

“Manual dexterity was a requirement in my job description which prompted me to mention my circus skills during interview. I like to think that helped me secure the job.”

Charlotte Humphries, the hospital’s travel plan co-ordinator, is impressed by Gerard’s one-wheeled example to cut car use.

She said: “Gerard proves where there’s a wheel, there’s a way.”