It is Cycle to Work Day. This is the UK’s biggest cycle commuting event held every year since 2012. It is a day when people cycle to work to promote the government's Cycle to Work Scheme.
The Cycle to Work Scheme
The Cycle to Work Scheme is a UK government scheme that lets you hire up to £1,000 worth of bike and safety equipment through your employer. The scheme is usually over a 12/18-month period, using a monthly salary sacrifice. At that time, you will have the option of buying the bike, continue to hire the bike, or give it back.
The scheme organisers claim that over 2 million miles have been ridden since it started. It is an excellent way to encourage commuters to keep fit on their journey to work.
Electric Bikes
Increasingly, people are looking at electric bikes for commuting. An electric bike helps you cycle, since it still requires some effort, but helps with the tough gradients trying to get up hills. It’s the ideal level of exertion to get you to work without needing to shower.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, much more needs to be done to get people out of their cars and to encourage cycling generally, helping our ecological footprint. The UK government need to continue to take the initiative so that all dedicated cycle lanes are in place for cyclists. Cyclists need to feel safe and be a way from traffic fumes.
In many European countries, cycling isn’t just a hobby – it’s a way of life. Streets are designed with cyclists in mind, and as a result, more people choose two wheels over four, for their daily commute. In the UK we still have a long way to go.
I like to hear about initiatives like this as feel very strongly that we need to look at alternative means of commuting.
I am fortunate that I work from home, but whenever I do need to go into the city centre, the traffic congestion is crazy and it can take me 45 mins to drive 4 miles.
Unfortunately in the UK, we have been very slow at making safe provision for cyclists and dedicated cycle lanes are uncommon and even then, they are next to polluted roads which doesn't make for a very pleasant journey.
Thanks. Yes, I do too. I think all governments and all countries need to do their bit to help with things like pollution which is very real.
I think where you say, the UK is slow to make safe provisions for cyclists, you're right. Governments need to start prioritising the things that will not only make people's lives safer commuting to work, but also working towards making the planet a safer place for everyone.
They tend to blame the problem on a lack of money, but it's not a lack of money at all. It's also a lack of foresight and prioritisation.
We need get more people on road side bikes and less people in cars on our roads, that adds to pollution and climate change.