Cycling queen feels heat - St Ann move tests cyclist

For nearly seven years, Shellysha McCarthy-Grandison was a familiar sight in Kingston as she weaved through traffic confidently in stilettos, turning heads while quietly sidestepping the daily grind of gridlock and rising transport costs.

What began as a bold personal choice quickly became a practical one, saving her both time and money.

Cycling, she pointed out, offers clear advantages that many commuters are now being forced to confront. Beyond its obvious fitness benefits, riding a bicycle eliminates the burden of fuel costs at a time when gas prices continue to climb. It also allows commuters to bypass Jamaica's often frustrating traffic congestion, cutting down travel time and reducing daily stress.

For McCarthy-Grandison, those combined benefits once made cycling not just a lifestyle choice, but a smart and efficient way to navigate urban life. However, a change of address, from Kingston to St Ann, has made cycling far less practical.

"Because I am in Runaway Bay, the gas price is affecting me now," she told THE STAR. Longer distances between towns have made cycling less feasible for some trips, pushing her toward public transportation -- an adjustment she admits has not been easy.

"I do ride still, but the other towns are a good distance away. if I want to get to St Ann's Bay [approximately 29 kilometres away], it doesn't make sense to ride because of the distance and the heat," she reasoned.

The situation is more daunting is she wants to go to Ocho Rios, which is approximately 40 km away.

"I have to be now taking public transportation and I am not used to that," she said.

Her experience mirrors a growing concern across Jamaica amid escalating global oil prices. Energy and Transport Minister Daryl Vaz has indicated that the Government is considering several options -- including work-from-home to help reduce the demand for petrol. The minister said that the State-owned refinery Petrojam has reportedly absorbed $11.8 billion in losses in recent weeks in an effort to shield consumers from the full impact of rising oil costs.

Meanwhile, the cost of fuel has never been a factor driving McCarthy-Grandison to ride. Long before the current surge, she was already reducing her reliance on fossil fuels by choosing two wheels over an engine. Despite the challenges in St Ann, she has not abandoned her bicycle. Instead, she has adapted.

"I ride and take my five-year-old daughter to school," she said.

"Kingston is flat but in St Ann, the landscape is different and everywhere is far from each other. Whenever I am riding, I am still in my heels as it is a part of me. Whenever I walk into town, I am still recognised by people who will ask me where is my cycle."

While owning a car may be in her future, McCarthy-Grandison insists cycling will remain part of her life.

"Riding is therapy for me, and it helps me to keep in shape," she said.

Explaining her preference for cycling over public transport, McCarthy-Grandison pointed to both her personality and the daily realities of commuting. She explained that her introverted nature makes crowded public transportation uncomfortable, reinforcing her preference for cycling.

"The only setback to riding for me is whenever it rains, as some drivers don't care about you, so they will drive and wet you up," she said.

"I may own a motor car in the future, but I am not going to stop riding," McCarthy-Grandison said.