Cycling to work will save you money and help the planet too

The cycle to work scheme started in the UK in 1999. It’s a government tax exemption initiative so you pay for the bike before any national insurance or income tax contributions are taken saving around 32% for a basic rate tax payer. It’s aims are to encourage people to exercise more as well as reducing toxic emissions in cities where often commuters are the only person in their car.

70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from transport are from road vehicles.

If you don’t know where to start with cycling to work, have a look here: Get on your bike: How to start cycling to work

The cycle to work scheme is a success

Since it’s roll out – pardon the pun – around 180,000 people a year sign up to the cycle to work scheme and over 2 million commuters have received a new bike. It’s a brilliant example of an initiative that works. It captured public interest because of the tax incentive, and it’s made a generation of workers healthier. You can find out more about the scheme here:

• https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk

It’s saving the environment daily

A four mile commute on a bike instead of a car saves half a tonne of CO2 emissions every single year.

We know 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from transport are from road vehicles. More people riding bikes means thousands of tonnes less of greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere and other pollutants because people have decided to ditch their car and start cycling to work.

A typical four mile commute on a bike instead of a car saves half a tonne of CO2 emissions every single year. Imagine if even more commuters adopted the bike, ditched the car and reduced their carbon footprint. And there are also the fuel savings to consider as well as the many health benefits. If your new to cycling, or have a big hill to tackle, e-bikes offer a great way to get back on your bike.

A great way to access the countryside too

The UK cycle paths are great and accessible across the country too. Since the inception of the scheme, the City of London has delivered 260km of cycle routes across the capital. There are 5,220 miles of completely traffic free cycle paths in the UK with a further 7,519 miles on the road.

Since the first cycle lanes were introduced in 1934, the UK government and local councils across the UK have worked to deliver safer cycling for commuters and other cyclists alike.

Take your bike on the train

Bikes are welcomed onto many trains with specific racks to take two wheels while you sit, if you book a space in advance.

We know the face of the UK workforce has changed since the pandemic with more people working from home and only having to go into the office once or twice a week maybe.

With that in mind though, isn’t it the best time to start thinking about cycling to work if you don’t already? If you have flexible home working you won’t be using you bike more than a couple of times a week, but you’ll be doing your health, the planet and your own carbon footprint good and the best part is, it will save you money every trip.

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