Why cycle to work?
It makes a lot of sense to commute by bike, both for you and your employer. Click here to see just a few of the benefits.

Encouraging others – it’s easier than you think!
Already cycle to work? Now it’s time to show your colleagues and employer just how good it is. Follow this link for all the facts you need to convince them….

Get the BUG! How to set up a Bike Users Group
Once you have a group interested in cycling to work, it’s a great idea to set up a BUG – or Bike Users Group. Just click here and we’ll show you how.

Why cycle to work?
Commuting by bike helps you and your employer in lots of ways. Here are just some of the benefits.

As a commuter you’ll save money on parking or bus fares. You’ll get there quicker, with no sitting in traffic jams either. It’s a brilliant way to get fit without having to go to a gym too; and because you’ll be healthier, you’ll have fewer days off sick, be able to concentrate better and be less stressed.

As an employer your staff will be healthier, able to concentrate better and less stressed. So why not encourage them to use their bikes? Ideally you’ll have safe, secure covered cycle parking, showers and lockers for equipment. You could also offer a mileage allowance if employees cycle on work business. You could even start a Ride to Work scheme which helps staff buy bikes for work, or introduce a workplace travel plan. Simple.

Encouraging others - it's easier than you think!
If you already cycle to work, you’ll know all the benefits – saving money, being fitter, getting there quicker to name just a few. But it’s easy to persuade colleagues to join you or your employer to be more cycle-friendly. All you need are the right tools…

Why don’t more people cycle to work?
Basically, there are three reasons:

• No bike
• No confidence
• No cycle facilities at work

However, none of these need be a problem. Here’s how to overcome these obstacles and convince others to take riding to work seriously.

No bike
A perfectly good commuter ‘hybrid’ bike can cost less than £200 – but there are ways to get them for even less.

Your local bike shop might well be willing to offer your company a discount, particularly if there’s a lot of potential custom there; you might even help them promote any special offers or discounts.

Then there’s the government’s Bike to Work Scheme. This allows people to save up to 40% on the cost, by buying a bike through their company. The bike is VAT-free, and payments are taken over 12 months through deductions from wages made before tax. Your employer saves money too, and you’ll need to talk to your HR and payroll departments about it. First though, search for ‘Cycle to Work Scheme’ at www.dft.gov.uk, or ask your local authority to recommend an administrator.

If you do a lot of local travelling as part of your job, why not see if your employer would introduce Pool Bikes to use for nearby visits instead of cars? That would take the pressure off parking spaces, too. 

No confidence
How many people have a bike, but never use it because they’re afraid of cycling on busy roads? The answer’s simple. Either plan a route to avoid them (our Journey Planner will help); or try cycle training. Several companies offer on-road training locally, or ask your local authority if they offer it themselves.

The image of cyclists is changing too. They’re no longer seen as people who can’t afford a car – they’re now smart and cool (especially when they can ride past queues of traffic!). And if it’s the cycling gear that’s a worry, take a look at Sustrans’ Bike  Belles pages (www.bikebelles.org.uk) for some interesting solutions!

No cycle facilities at work
In the same way companies provide car parking spaces, isn’t it only fair cyclists should be provided for? Covered parking would be ideal, somewhere visible and close to work; showers and lockers too, so you can get changed after riding in.

If your employer needs convincing, try this fact: a Dutch survey in 2009 showed absenteeism amongst cyclists was on average 15% lower than other employees. Not only that, encouraging cycling will save them money and fit with any ‘green’ policies they have; to help your case, use the links below or contact your local authority’s Travel Plan Co-ordinator.

You could also get your company to introduce a Travel Plan that promotes car sharing, public transport, walking and, of course, cycling as alternatives to travelling alone in a car. Your local authority can tell you more.

Helpful links
www.cyclefriendlyemployers.org.uk/no_excuses.php
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/travelplans/work
www.act-travelwise.org
www.cyclingengland.co.uk

Get the BUG! How to set up a Bike User Group
Once you’ve got people interested in cycle commuting, setting up a Bike User Group or BUG is a great way for employees and employer to work together to make the most of it.

Workers will be healthier, less stressed and even more likely to get to work on time; plus there’ll be less pressure on parking spaces!

Starting a BUG is easy, too. There are just five simple steps:

1. See how much interest there’d be by looking how many bikes are parked at work or sending out a company-wide email. You could even try to find out what puts people off cycling to work.
2. Involve management, preferably a senior staff member who’s pro-cycling and could champion the cause!
3. Hold an initial meeting for anyone that’s interested. Make sure everyone knows it’s on – more will come if it’s in work time too. Keep the meeting short, and use it to draw up an action plan.
4. Meet with management and present your case properly. That means having your action plan typed up and selling the benefits of a BUG to the whole organization. Be prepared to negotiate a bit, remain positive and fix a date for follow-up meetings to update them.
5. Keep members interested with events like Bike Week, social events, a newsletter or intranet page – but remember, some members may prefer not to be too actively involved.