Travel Plan
Cycling
Cambridgeshire is flat! Those who live and work around the City of Cambridge know that it can justifiably claim to be the cycling capital of England. The cycling infrastructure in the rest of Cambridgeshire is rapidly improving also.
So in promoting cycling to work we have topography and infrastructure on our side – compared to many parts of the country we are very lucky.
It is a rare Cambridgeshire travel plan indeed that does not include cycling!
Below are some Travel for Work ideas to facilitate and promte cycling to your workplace.
Cycle purchase support
- Cycle to Work tax free scheme can be run in-house or through administrators for more information see Cycle to Work Schemes at bikeforall.net (an excellent source of bike info on the net).
- If you'd like to know which scheme suits your requirements locally check out our comparison of tax free scheme administrators. Information was supplied and agreed by operators Dec 07.
- If you are a full member of TfW, promote the TfW cycle shop discounts.
Bike Week/Bike2Work
Promoting Cycling
- DfT's The Essential Guide to Travel Planning Section 10 Cycling page 40 click here for case studies etc.
- Provide/improve showers and changing rooms.
- Provide lockers and drying rooms.
- Provide mileage rates for staff that cycle to meetings (see Tax Implications for details of what rates you can give).
- Set up a Bicycle User Group (BUG) - a forum for commuting cyclists. See Starting a Bicycle Users Group 9 pg leaflet produced by Bristol Health Promotion Service + Sustrans (June 1995). TfW have produced a sample BUG agenda.
- Cambridge City Cycle map - if your company is based in or around Cambridge the cycle map is a must. It links the villages surrounding Cambridge to the City. For copies of the cycle map please contact
Elfaisal Elturki - Cambridge City Council
email: elfaisal.elturki@cambridge.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (01223) 457187 or view Cambridge City Council cycling web pages.
- Cambridge City Cycle Route Planner - find the quickest, quietest, shortest cycle route between home and work using the Cambridge Cycling Campaign website journey planner.
- Keeping your bike -
Its a good idea to register your bike for free at www.immobilise.com. This is recommended by the police. You can also register other personal items of value. Doing this should help you retrieve your stuff if it is stolen. If you would like posters/flyers and stickers phone Parkside Police Station on 0845 456 456 4 and ask for the Community Safety Unit.
Also check your home insurance and consider extending it if necessary.
- Adult Cycle Training - Providing or supporting Adult Cycle Training for your staff is a wonderful way of giving your employees the confidence to consider cycling to work. If you wish to promote cycle training then please ring Lindsey Rushmore (Nationally Qualified Cycling Instructor) on 01223 712455 for details. Individuals may contact Cambridgeshire County Council's Road Safety Team on 01480 375105 for booking lessons.
- Fillthathole.org.uk contacts the right people for you, to get the roads repaired quickly and easily.
- HM Revenue & Customs' website explains benefits to employers: tax exemption for bicycles and cyclists' meals or refreshments - please click EIM21664.
Cycles on business
Fitness Benefits
We all know that:
- We are becoming increasing sedentary.
- We should be taking more exercise
- Cycling is a great way to fit exercise into busy working and family lives.
Company Benefits
Promoting cycling will benefit your company because it will:
- Reduce sickness levels
- Increase staff productivity
- Reduce time spent complaining about the drive into work!
- Cycling can be the quickest form of transport – your staff will arrive on time!
- A very useful Tax and Travel Plans guide has been produced by Prof. Stephen Potter at the Open University. This explains benefits to employers: tax exemption for bicycles and cyclists' meals or refreshments etc. Click to download a copy.
