Cycle Friendly Employers

There are many reasons why employers should encourage more staff (and visitors) to travel to work by bike.

 

WHY be a cycle friendly employer?

Cycling is a fast and efficient mode of transport and especially ideal for journeys of 5 miles and under. Encouraging employees and visitors to travel to your site by bike means:
being part of the solution not the problem
more cycling means less cars on the road and less congestion
 
a fitter and healthier workforce
less sickness absence and increased productivity
 
reduced parking demand
10 bikes can fit into the space taken by one car
 
greater travel choice
means increased access and social inclusion
 
 

HOW to be a cycle friendly employer?

If you want to encourage more cyclists to visit you then you need to ensure that you have the right policies and infrastructure in place.
 
Download our 'Guide to Being a Cycle Friendly Employer' (pdf) for lots of helpful advice on how to encourage your staff to cycle to work.
 
Cycle Parking
  • should be located as close as possible to the main entrance and ideally be under constant surveillance (CCTV or general public)
  • ideally staff should have secure parking accessed only by keyholders (e.g a bike cage or compound)
  • remember if you provide secure parking for staff you will still need to provide space for visitors
  • sheffield stands (u-bends) are the most popular - do not use 'butterfly' stands that ony fasten the front wheel as they are not secure and can damage bikes
  • you can fit at least 10 bikes into the space taken by one car
 
 
Discounted Cycle Loan & Purchase
 
To promote cycle commuting the government has introduced tax exemptions for employers to loan cycles and equipment as tax-free benefits.
 
To take advantage of the tax and NIC exemption, an employer can simply buy a cycle and related equipment, reclaim the VAT, make use of the capital allowances and loan it to an employee for qualifying journeys to work. The employer can then recover the cost of providing the cycle equipment loaned to the employee, usually through a salary sacrifice scheme. At the end of the loan period the employer can choose to give the employee the option to purchase the equipment.

Companies that offer assistance with setting up and running such schemes include:

 
 

Other Incentives
  • provide adequate changing facilities - this could include showers, lockers or a drying room
  • provide information on local routes (see our getting around section for more info)
  • pay a mileage allowance for business travel carried out on bike
  • set up a BUG (Bike User Group) or forum where cyclists can exchange information with each other and management
    Useful Information

Download useful pdfs here:

 

ARE you a cycle friendly employer?

Do you actively encourage your staff to cycle to work?
Do you pay bike mileage?
Does more than 20% of your workforce cycle to work?
 
 
If so then we want to hear from you. Please email us at celebratingcycling@lancaster.gov.uk with details of why you are a cycle friendly employer.
 
 

KEY Employers

Since 2007 we have been working with a number of key employers to encourage and enable them to increase cycling levels to their workplace.
 
These employers are Lancaster University; Royal Lancaster Infirmary; Lancaster City Council and Lancaster & Morecambe College. In 2009 a further two workplaces jpined this project, they are North Lancashire Primary Care Trust and the University of Cumbria.
 
Read the first edition of Cycle Commuter (pdf) April 2008.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Other Local Cycle Friendly Employers

Examples of local employers who have used the three E's to becoming a Cycle Friendly Employer

    • Educate

    • Enable

    • Encourage

They've done it - Why don't you?

 
Cannon Hygiene ltd
White Lund Industrial Estate, Morecambe
A market leader in the provision of hygiene based services with a commitment to encouraging staff to be more environmentally friendly, Cannon Hygiene demonstrates how to be a cycle friendly employer.
 
To enable employees to leave the car at home and cycle to work undercover secure cycle parking has been erected on the premises.
 
To encourage employees to cycle to work Cannon held an Environmental Day asking staff where possible to leave cars at home. On the day information was readily available from local cycle retailers and the Cycle Demonstration Town’s display stand.
 
To educate staff, literature on cycling to work from Lancaster City Council is displayed in the office foyer.
 
 
 
Lancashire Police
Thurnham Street, Lancaster Chief Superintendant Gary Stephenson, Finance Manager Stuart Railton, Communications Supervisor Fergus Johnston
Leading the way in using bikes for work, Lancashire Constabulary not only encourage staff to cycle to work, but send their police out to work on bike- Bobbies on Bikes .
 
To enable employees to cycle to work, secure, dry, cycle parking is available at the Lancaster building.
 
To encourage staff to consider cycling to work, Fergus Johnston, Communications Supervisor, circulates information about CDT cycle schemes and services regularly.
 
To educate staff some employees recently completed 2 hours of workplace cycle training, giving them more confidence to ride on busy roads when cycling to work.
 
"As part of the Constabulary's attitude and commitment to environmental awareness we encourage our staff to use cycles to travel to and from work, and where practicable during the course of their work. We currently have a member of staff who takes a lead on cycling issues and thanks to a grant from Lancaster City Council we now have a number of pedal cycles that can be used by our Neighbourhood Policing Officers in the community."
Spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary