Cycle to Work Guarantee

We want to help enable more people to cycle into work by encouraging employers to sign up to the ‘Cycle to Work Guarantee.’

Employers who sign the Guarantee, pledge to implement a series of simple, low cost measures to make cycling to work easier for those who wish to do so, thereby encouraging as many people as possible to cycle to work. It is basically about removing the barriers that might stop people getting on their bikes.

The employers that choose to sign up to the Guarantee, are signalling that they are committed to delivering the following five points:

  • Secure, safe, and accessible bike parking facilities for all staff who want them
  • Good quality changing and locker facilities for all staff who want them
  • Offset the cost of cycling equipment and save on the tax through the ‘Cycle to Work scheme’
  • Bike repair for cyclists on or near site
  • Training, reward and incentive programmes to achieve targets for more cycling

If more of us cycled to work it would cut rush hour congestion, and result in a healthier, fitter workforce with the all associated benefits of increased productivity and reduced absenteeism that entails.

Nearly a quarter of all car trips are made by people getting to and from work and we know that many of these are relatively short journeys of less than five miles, that could easily be cycled.

Providing on site bike maintenance and cycling incentives and rewards, along with sending out clear signals from the top that cycling to and from the office is a good thing, can all help make cycling a realistic, alternative option for travelling to work.

This is an opportunity for employers, for a relatively low cost investment, to reap massive returns for their organisation and their communities: reduced congestion – means faster journey times, reduced carbon emissions – better air quality, and a healthier, fitter workforce.

Those who do choose to cycle to work, will find it is an economical way to get healthier and enjoy a better quality of life.

Employers

Sign up to the Cycle to Work Guarantee. Once you have signed up, the name of your organisation will appear on the website. This is a great way to show that you are a forward looking organisation that is committed to helping develop a healthier, fitter workforce.

Please note that we may send you updates from time to time on all the latest sustainable travel developments.

Employees

See if your employer has signed up to the Cycle to Work Guarantee Scheme.

Endorsements

What people are saying about the Cycle to Work Guarantee Scheme.

Ian Drake, CEO of British Cycling said:

“We fully endorse the Cycle to Work Guarantee because it puts the onus on employers to support staff who commute to work by bicycle. Britain is already home to the most successful cyclists in the world thanks to the incredible performance of our athletes in the Beijing Olympics and our next challenge is to turn Britain into a true cycling nation.

“British Cycling has a vision to grow cycling as a sport, recreational activity and a sustainable means of transport by encouraging more people to get on their bikes in the build up to the London Olympics and this latest initiative will help achieve just that.”

CBI Director General, Richard Lambert:

“This is a welcome initiative. An estimated one in two journeys cover less than five miles so there is huge opportunity for increasing cycle use. This initiative shows how a number of small steps by employers can encourage employees to cycle to work. By reducing the strain on road networks and car-parking facilities, increased cycling benefits both individuals and the wider economy. Cycling also reduces carbon emissions and can be an important part of an employer’s corporate social responsibility objectives.”

Corin Dimopolous, Director of Cycling BSkyB said:

“We’re big fans of cycling at Sky and, having entered into a five year partnership with the British Cycling Federation, this year committed to encourage one million more people to cycle regularly. We fully support the Cycle to Work Guarantee as we want to get as many people as possible to pick up their bikes whether it’s to get to work; for fun, for fitness, or with friends and family. This summer we supported a group of 27 fearless employees who took part in, and completed, L’Etape du Tour – the toughest stage of this year’s Tour De France; and our regular cyclists clocked up enough miles to win the TFL cycle to work challenge.”

Adrian Woods, Global Director of Facilities, ARM:
“Organisations who do not consider the transport modes used by their employees have not properly considered the full environmental impacts of their organisation. Signing up to The Cycle to Work Guarantee is a key step to demonstrating commitment to supporting commuting by bicycle to all stakeholders. Foremost it ensures that organisations assist and empower employees to make a choice in their commuting decisions.”

Phillip Darnton, Chairman for Cycling England, commented:

“We very much welcome the Cycle to Work Guarantee and encourage employers, whatever their size, to sign up and pledge to make cycling to work easier for employees that wish to do so. Simple and straightforward steps can really make a difference – employers could install secure places to store bikes, implement initiatives such as Bicycle User Groups, offer cycle training and the ‘cycle to work’ scheme. We have witnessed through our network of 18 Cycling Towns that when employers take any of these steps it really makes a big difference to the number of employees that take up cycling to work. Cycling England will do all in its power to help make cycling to work a viable and accessible mode of transport for all.”

Philip Fellowes-Prynne , Chief Executive of May Gurney Limited:

“The ‘Cycle to Work Guarantee’ Scheme reflects the proactive approach that we at May Gurney have taken through our Travel Planning over the past two years, to encourage our staff to cycle to and at work; to reduce carbon emissions, improve their health and to help reduce pressure on local roads and car parks. We support this DfT initiative and will be pleased to support its successful launch across the region.”

Shaun Matisonn, Chief Executive, PruHealth said:

“At PruHealth we believe in making it as easy as possible for people to look after their health and rewarding them for doing so. With this in mind we wholeheartedly support the Department of Transport’s Cycle to Work Guarantee. 

“No matter what the size of your company the benefits of actively encouraging and promoting healthy behaviours amongst your employees are manifold.

“With cycling being one of the Nation’s favourite exercise pursuits, and having recently launched our own cycle to work scheme, we believe that the Department of Transport’s Cycle to Work Guarantee is an innovative, cost effective and environmentally friendly  way of encouraging the Nation to become more physically active.”

E.ON

E.ON is one of the UK’s leading energy companies and as such we recognise the environmental impact of our business which is why we continually work to reduce this impact in all areas of our operations.   As an employer of around 17,000 people in the UK, Green Travel initiatives can make a huge difference in reducing our own employees’ carbon footprint.  We wholeheartedly support the Department for Transport’s Cycle to Work Guarantee and would urge other businesses to do so.

Chris Woodhall, E.ON’s Green Travel Manager, said: “At E.ON we offer all of the facilities and services laid out in the five point Cycle to Work Guarantee scheme at the majority of our sites.  However by signing up to the Guarantee we are committing to going one step further by aiming to offer these at all sites. 

“We have found our Green Travel Scheme, which offers points that colleagues can exchange for vouchers in return for using our Green Travel solutions, has made a huge difference to the ways our employees travel. It’s saved over 10 million miles of travelling and has prevented over 2592 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the environment since 2001.  Of course colleagues have saved a considerable amount of money through reducing their fuel costs and earning Green Travel points.  If every business in the UK signed up to the Cycle to Work Guarantee we could make a huge difference together.”

Michael Wombell works for E.ON and is based in Nottingham, he said: ”I live about four miles away from the office and I cycle to work every day – come rain or shine. Through E.ON’s commitment to Green Travel I was able to take advantage of our Cycle2work scheme to buy a better bike which meant I not only saved on tax and national insurance I saved on VAT as well.

“The Cycle to Work Guarantee will mean more people will have access to better cycling facilities, services and money saving schemes, which can never be a bad thing for the cycling community or indeed the environment!”

Malcolm Shepherd, Sustrans’ CEO, said:

“Sustrans warmly welcomes the Cycle to Work Guarantee scheme as a key that could open the door to more cycling while also providing incentives for local authorities to create safe, attractive conditions for the journey to and from work places.”

Kelloggs – Bruce Learner, Corporate Responsibility Manager, said:

“Kellogg’s is committed to getting people active so we’re delighted to support the Cycle to Work Guarantee. We have encouraged our employees to join the cycle to work since 2007 – we’ve had refresher cycling courses and created bike racks and we regularly hold bike maintenance workshops. We even signed up Sir Chris Hoy as our Bran Flakes ambassador to show how much we love cycling! 10% of our employees at the Manchester head office cycle to work and we’re keen to increase this as part of this new commitment.”

GSK – Sue Pictor, Director of Global Real Estate:

“Promoting cycling is an important part of GSK’s Integrated Transport Policy which strives to encourage the use of more sustainable means of transport amongst our staff.  GSK fully endorses the Cycle to Work Guarantee and as such offers support, incentives and the relevant infrastructure to its cyclists commuting to work.” 

Further information