To boost cycling to work
To boost cycling to work
Identify the Barriers1• Why are they not all cycling
to work already?• Safety fears
• Lack of supporting infrastructure
• Lack of practical knowledge and advice
• Little group, community or societal support
• Little disincentive to jumping in the car
• Still a bit weird!
The individual’s perspective
“I’m worried about a few
things.”
“What sort of bike do I need
and what else?”
“I could really do with
some training.”
“Which are the quickest and
safest routes?”
“Be good if there were more cycle
paths and stands around”
“Be great if there were some secure
bike sheds at work, and maybe some
lockers – and showers.
“Why should I cycle?”
“More people should be cycling
around here. I feel fit, I’ve lost weight and it’s
such fun!”
Find out what they really want and need
Safety (50%) Journey to work too far to cycle
(45%) Get wet if it rains (35%) No bike (25%) Too much to carry (23%) Pollution (20%) Not fit enough (18%) Bad for my image (1%)
Lead from the front2“If senior managersdo it, then it must be cool for me to do it, too!”
Prepare the Stage3Set the sceneBegin the persuasion processCycling GuidesFactsheetsPostersIntranetDoctor Bike visitNewsletter stories on existing employees who cycleEmployee survey
Find a Champion4With the right skillsMake him/her feel valuableBack your champion up and be seen to do so.Ideally a male champion and a female champion.Build up to a Bicycle user groupBike-buddy scheme
Meet real needs with real facilities: Bike Park5
Safe, attractive cycle stands, covered, locked bike park
Avoid the word ‘shed’
Put it in prominent place, with
your logo on it
Consider using car park land
Meet real needs with real facilities: Bike Pool6
Bike pool, perhaps including an electric bike.
Tool kit
Controlled by bike champion or B.U.G.
Relationship with local bike shop
Buy quality: take advice, not necessarily from local bike shop!
Small frames, hub gears, branded panniers.
7Meet real needs with real facilities: Indoor7Changing room
Lockers
Shower
Not all may be necessary
Cut car-parking space8Cut car-parking options while making other ways of getting to work more attractive
Few staff will cycle all year round: they have a range of options, including public transport, walking, and car.
Bike purchase through salary sacrifice9
Publicise it well through an annual event, inviting suppliers.
CycleScheme magazine is free.
It’s for ALL your employees10Not just your office staff,
who will be easiest to recruit
Other workers may need a different approach and different incentives
Do they get paid time off to experience cycling promotion events or activities?
Incentivise 11 Cash rewards
Time off workLunch vouchersPrizesHotel weekend with familyTrips to the velodrome
Cycle Challenges12
Mass participation through multi-featured software
Lots of easy measurables
Often same people year after year
BikeBoost Cycle loan programmes1 3Up to 40 participants per monthRecruitment visitTriage for selectionTraining if necessaryLoan of bikes and equipmentSupport and incentivesBike collection, appraisal65% continuation ratesHigh female participationCan buy the bike at high discount if their loan included training
Cycle Training14
Adult cycle training difficult to make stickCall it coaching insteadTie it into benefits: lots of good ideas out thereOffer it as part of try-out roadshowsOffer it as part of a Get-into-Cycling package with and bike maintenance
Chart achievements 15 Use of prominent charting to
show increase in cycle-miles to work, C02 saved etc. Shows communal effort.
Support local charity ride(s)16Have a corporate
presence:
good local PR Take part yourself!
Bikes AT and not just TO work 17
Can offer better mobility at large-site workplaces
Carrier cycles for the on-site movement of goods
Staff on the road can take folders for flexibility
Visibly changes culture
Greenwheels Sustainable Transport Day
18
Cycling part of a sustainable transport continuum
A try-out event with bikes, electric bikes, electric scooters, electric cars, public transport, etc.
Greenwheels
Employers need to be fully aware of the services available from the local autority.
19
This can be anything from Personal Travel Planning to cycle training to providing trained guides for occasional social bike rides for staff.
Persuade an employee to hand over their car keys for a month in exchange for free bike loan, travel pass and a £50 voucher for a local shoe shop.
Can apply to whole families, with bikes, passes and car club vouchers to meet all their varying everyday needs.
Less value in it if you can’t get the local media on board.
Power of a local news story
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An image we use in our schools work to stimulate discussion
Jim McGurnChief ExecutiveGet Cycling CiC
22, Hospital Fields RoadYork
YO10 4DZ
01904 636812Mob: 0772 0846611
www.getcycling.org.uk