Cycle Scheme gets staff back in the saddle
Source: Warwickshire County Council
News Posted: 15 July 2008
Above: The burgeoning cycle to work group at Warwickshire County Council
A scheme to get Warwickshire County Council workers back in the saddle and travelling to work more sustainably is being declared a huge success.
In the last year two per cent of all 18,000 of the county council's staff have taken advantage of the scheme, spending 174,000 GBP on bikes and equipment.
And a survey of council staff found that the scheme is having the desired impact. A poll last year on the council'
s intranet found that 46 per cent of staff had used a bike in the previous 12 months, this year the poll showed that
58 per cent have used a bike, with many having cycled to work that week.
The Cycle Scheme is a national scheme offered by many employers offering staff the chance to purchase a brand new cycle for work use, and the payments for the bike are then deducted directly from the salary over the year before tax - saving up to 42 per cent on the cost of a new bike.
And staff are loving the scheme not just because of the savings on their pocket with hundreds of comments flooding in.
"I am feeling a whole lot fitter, both physically and mentally, what a great start to the day"; "I've lost two stone in weight since starting to cycle in"; "I was not a cyclist at all before last September and now I'm cycling in and loving it"; "Since joining the scheme I've raved about it so much my neighbour has just bought a bike".
Nicola Small, the county council's Cycle Scheme administrator, said: "It is easy to administer, it's a staff perk, helps staff stay keep fit and it helps companies reduce the amount of car parking required, as well as congestion around the work place."
Cllr Martin Heatley, the county council's Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: "I'm delighted to hear that more than 350 staff members have now taken advantage of this scheme. It's a great way to get a new bike and get into work quickly and in a healthy way, without some of the expense."
For further information on setting up the scheme visit www.cyclescheme.co.uk or contact Richard Grigsby on 01225 448933, or call Nicola Small 01926 412105 for feedback on what it is like to administer the scheme on behalf of a major employer.
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