With more people choosing to cycle for health, wellbeing and financial reasons, Cycle2work schemes are a simple way for businesses of all sizes to support their staff. The benefits for a business are plentiful: healthier and potentially more productive workforce, reduction in National Insurance contributions, benefits package boost and a showcase of its commitment to sustainability.
For employees, these schemes allow them to access bikes and cycling equipment through salary sacrifice, often saving up to 47% on the cost of a new bike, because of tax-free repayments. This, in addition to the myriad health and environmental benefits, is a win-win situation.
There are currently over 20 government-approved Cycle2work providers in the UK, including popular names like Cyclescheme, Bike2Work, Green Commute Initiative and Halfords Cycle2Work. Many offer flexible options for businesses, whether you have five employees or five hundred.
How can employers support Cycle2work?
You don’t need to be a large corporation with an on-site gym to support this initiative. Small changes can make a big difference to staff wellbeing and participation. At SFM, we work with businesses to help them identify simple, practical ways to make cycling to work more accessible and appealing.
That might be:
- Finding a secure, sheltered spot for bike storage and even a small covered rack or lockable shed can encourage uptake.
- Providing a few lockers for staff to store helmets and waterproofs.
- Making use of underused spaces like a rear yard, side alley or corner of a car park.
- Ensuring cycle storage is safe, well-lit and, if possible, covered by existing CCTV.
It’s about wellbeing, not just infrastructure
While cycle storage is important, the real value lies in supporting staff wellbeing. Cycling to work boosts physical health, reduces stress and helps staff feel more energised and positive.
Even small businesses can champion active travel by:
- Promoting Cycle to Work schemes internally.
- Offering flexible working hours to support active travel commutes.
- Encouraging friendly workplace challenges like “Bike to Work Month.”
- Ensuring facilities are clean, safe and easy to use.
We’re here to help
SFM isn’t a Cycle to Work scheme provider, but we’re here to help you support your staff. Whether it’s advising on simple storage solutions, arranging installation or helping promote the scheme within your business, we’re on hand with practical, no-nonsense support.
Key cycling statistics for 2024: A wheelie fast summary
Don’t wait to jump on your saddle; instead get stuck into this speedy run with some headline cycling stats from 2024:
- In 2022 the average person went on 15 bike rides, and covered a distance of 57 miles.
- Cycling participation peaked in 2020, when on average, people cycled more than twice as far as they did in 2002.
- 12.5% of UK adults say that better cycling path infrastructure would or has encouraged them to cycle to work.
- 11.5% say cycle to work schemes would get them commuting via a bike instead of other forms of public transport.
- And 11% say better bike storage options at the workplace are what would encourage them to ride to work.
- Nearly 1 in 3 (29.7%) UK adults say they don’t cycle to work, and nothing would encourage them to do so.
- On average, cyclists take 15% less days off sick than non-cyclists.
https://www.barriersdirect.co.uk/blog-posts/190-cycling-statistics-uk-and-cycling-to-work
Get in touch with our friend team If you’d like to improve staff wellbeing and support sustainable travel at your site, we’d be happy to help:
📞 01444 812 171
📧 admin@sussexfacilities.co.uk
