Cyclescheme, a new program being promoted through the government’s Green Transport Plan, encourages employers and their employees to choose cycling to work, rather than use mass transit. Through Cyclescheme bikes are made available to employees of partnering companies at a tax-free rate. Taking advantage of this government initiative is fairly simple.

• An employee of a Cyclescheme friendly company applies online for a Cyclescheme Certificate.
• Upon certification approval, the employee chooses a cycle and the necessary safety equipment through an independent bike store that cooperates with Cyclescheme.
• The employer pays full retail price for the cycle and equipment. In return, the cost of the cycle is sacrificed tax free, through the employee’s salary over a period of months. Thereby the cost of the cycle is reduced up to 40% for the employee.
• In the event an employee leaves the company, the company retains the right to the cycle unless the cycle has been financed through a private financial company. The employee has the right to purchase the cycle at market value from the company or it may be given to the employee without further payment at the discretion of the employer.

Both the employer and employee reap monetary benefits through participation in Cyclescheme. On average, due to salary reduction the employer would save 13.8% annually through the Employers’ National Insurance Contributions. However, the monetary benefits for the employee is far greater. Cycling reduces the need for petrol products, insurance premiums, maintenance, and repairs costs. Last year, cyclists noted a savings of almost 600 pounds.

One of the greatest aspects of Cyclescheme are the health benefits. Integrating a daily exercise plan can be difficult fit in the daily schedule, but by substituting cycling to work rather than driving, two goals are simultaneously accomplished. On average one employee biking to work burns over 8,000 calories a month. Visualize 17 cheeseburgers and you have the approximate calories intact the average biker burns in a month’s time. The figures increase if the cyclist substitutes his weekend driving habits with biking.

More employers are encouraging their employees to participate in Cyclescheme not only for the health benefits, but for the environmental benefits. Global warming is of great concern and cycling is a positive way to disrupt emissions. Within a month’s time almost 6,600 tonnes of carbon emissions were eliminate from the environment. Visually, that is approximately 350 acres of rainforest land preserved. Evaluate your situation to see if Cyclescheme is the right choice for you.