Cycle to Work Guarantee
The Cycle to Work Guarantee is a voluntary initiative from the Department for Transport, challenging businesses to become cycle friendly employers by making it easier for staff to cycle to and from work.
Halfords can help your organisation implement the Cycle to Work Guarantee.
The Cycle to Work Guarantee has five elements, which demonstrate a commitment to being cycle friendly employer:
| Storing: | Providing secure, safe and accessible bike parking |
| Changing: | Providing good quality changing and locker facilities |
| Buying: | Offset the cost of cycling equipment and save on tax by introducing the cycle2work scheme |
| Repairing: | Helping with repair for cycles on or near site |
| Inspiring: | Introducing training, reward and incentive programmes to achieve in-house cycling targets |
Storing
Proving safe, secure parking for employee's cycles are important in demonstrating employers is serious about keeping their employees cycles safe whilst at work. It also provides a very clear message that cycling an integral part of the business culture and welcomed by the organisation.
Many local authorities provide grants to cover some of the costs of installing cycle parking. Please contact your cycling officer at your Local Authority to find out more.
Changing
Making cycling to work as convenient as possible for staff includes providing sufficient changing and locker facilities. Showers and changing rooms can also be useful for other employees, including those who walk or run to work, or who exercise during a lunch hour.
Employers may also want to identify a drying area for wet clothes and towels.
Some Local Authorities provide match funding for installation. Please contact your cycling officer at your Local Authority to find out more.
Buying
Cycling, especially for the first time, can incur large upfront costs. This can be a deterrent for people wanting to start cycling to work.
The Government's 'Cycle to Work' Scheme as provided by Halfords can reduce the cost of a bike and safety equipment by between 30–52%.
Repairing
Having cycle repair available close to work encourages staff to stay safe through regular bike servicing and maintenance. Halfords Annual Bike Care Plan, providing free labour on all repairs and maintenance is an ideal way to ensure cycles stay in a road worthy condition.
Employers may also wish to purchase basic tools for use by cyclists. Halfords can help with this purchase.
Inspiring
Though great facilities may help, but changing employee's travel behaviour can be difficult. Messages encouraging cycling and discouraging less sustainable modes will help to increase the numbers of employees cycling to work.
Employees will be encouraged to take that first cycle journey if the right help and incentives are put in place.
Halfords can help introduce cycle training, to the new national standard – Bikeability, to you organisation.
