More than 70 major public and private sector employers are today pledging to implement a new “Cycle to Work Guarantee” in a bid to transform the numbers cycling to work, the Department for Transport announced.
By signing up to the guarantee, employers commit to provide their staff with safe bike storage, changing facilities and access to the Cycle to Work scheme to purchase new bikes and cycling equipment.
Perhaps stating the obvious somewhat, the Department say that reports from employers who already provide this support show that it dramatically increases the numbers of staff who cycle to work. The splendidly named Transport Secretary, Andrew Adonis, said:
If proper facilities were more widely available, I believe far more people would cycle to work [...] The number of GlaxoSmithKline employees cycling to work has tripled since they introduced the right facilities at their headquarters. I see no reason why the Cycle to Work Guarantee can’t spread this success widely.
In my own place of employment we are lucky enough to have secure (ish) bike parking, showers and a Cycle to Work scheme (though only through Halfords). I know that, given the state in which I arrive at the office in the morning, showers and changing facilities are essential, and I’d also be uneasy about cycling to work if I had to lock up my ride on the mean streets of Belfast city centre. Even now as the weather turns autumnal the bike sheds are still usually full and the showers are busy in the mornings.
The full Department for Transport press release has more details, and a new Cycle to Work Guarantee website has everything companies need to sign up. Over 70 organisations have already committed to the scheme, though I see none from Northern Ireland – YET.
If you would like to cycle to work but can’t or feel unable to because of a lack of facilities, make it known to your management and HR people and point them towards the Cycle to Work Guarantee website. It might change things for the better.
In Whitehall, apparently, the Transport Secretary is known affectionately as “more Andrew than Adonis.” Google for an image of him and you’ll see why.
Oh I know, I just think it’s a great name :) You do have to give him some respect for being brave enough to go by it in public life.
We have secure parking but that’s it – no place to shower – lucky I don’t smell … although my desk area seems to be vacated when I get in in a morning!