Cycling to work - government incentive scheme to buy tax free bikes!
in General Chat
Good call Stu, I believe its a voucher system that comes around every six months or so. Ive been pushing the company I work for to get involved but they were having problems getting involved.
I too would be grateful for any info that anyone has.
I too would be grateful for any info that anyone has.
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I would love to buy a bike to cycle to work (wouldn't want to use my tri bike to cycle to work on roads but would I probably buy a sports hybrid) I've heard you can get about 50% off the normal SRP of a bike as the government and the govenrment are going to be building more cycling lanes and other essential safety features for cyclists.
I can't seem to find much info about the scheme on the internet and would be really greateful if anyone knows anymore... [:)]
I got some info off another forum about how the scheme works here:
[color=#800080]www.cyclesolutions.co.uk[/color]
[color=#800080]www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/cycling/cycletoworkschemeimplementat5732[/color]
Ride2Work
Cycling England analysed the carbon commutes of the 6.6 million employees who use cars or buses to travel less than five miles to work, as part of its campaign to promote Bike Week (16-24 June).
Staggeringly, if each of these target commuters were to cycle during the five working days of Bike Week, they would save over 44,000 tonnes of CO2, pocketing around £61 million in the process through economising on fuel and fare costs.
A week’s pedal power would save the equivalent carbon generated by more than 102 million kWh of electricity. To put this into perspective, over six million people freewheeling during just one week saves enough CO2 to:
· offset the domestic emissions generated by heating more than 16,700 houses for a year
· balance out the emissions generated by more than 205 million standard light bulbs in just one day
· ill 8,800 hot air balloons
At the moment, 78 per cent of all commuters drive or are driven to work, generating a weekly CO2 footprint of more than 341,000 tonnes. However, Cycling England predicts that more “carbon-conscious commuters” will begin to consider cycling to work, with many testing out their wheels over Bike Week. 600,000 people already cycle to work, saving a weekly tally of almost 5,250 tonnes.
More than 6.6 million people make work-based journeys of under five miles, and these short-distance commuters are the target for the government organisation’s new campaign, as their journeys could most easily be switched from car/bus to bicycle, saving them almost £500 a year in the process.
Just need to stick on some tri-bars and then go and have fun / do some training...
These schemes are great but only if there is back up by companies in providing shower facilities at work and locker storage for gear you can't lug around on a bike each day. How good are your work places?
Great stats about carbon emission reductions SportSTu. On top of those environmental benefits are the benefits to the country and NHS long term of more people being fitter/ healthier.[:D]
Going home (NZ) for a few months so will tackle the powers that be next year. Hmm Barbs- can see you being popular in the mens or unisex showers- suddenly all these guys will "need" to shower when you do. Good luck!
Not sure if this has been mentioned in this thread...under the rules of the scheme, the bike is hired by the employee and is not owned by them and although the employer can sell you the bike at the end of the period for 'a fair market price' they are under no obligation to do so and, in fact, are banned from mentioning the sale of the bike at all.
So, if you fancy renting a bike for a very decent cost, this is the scheme for you. If you want to buy one...have a quiet word with your boss and do it 'unofficially' !!
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/CustomerServices/cycle2work.aspx
or go to:
www.cyclescheme.co.uk
(I already have a good mountain bike but don't fancy riding that on the roads to work...)
Thanks [:)]