This year, Cycle to Work Day is on August 3rd. The campaign recognises that for many, commuting now looks different and with more of us working from home, it’s really about all forms of cycling and the health benefits it brings.
You don’t just have to cycle to work. It could just be a simple ride to the shops or for fun with friends. It’s a day to encourage commuting by bike anywhere you need to go, helping not only physically but mentally and financially too.
This article looks at the health benefits of cycling to work, as well as explaining what employers need to know about the Cycle to Work Scheme and how to take part.
The many health benefits of cycling
“Get on your bike’ – we’ve all heard the phrase, but it really is worth making the effort. Cycling brings health benefits such as burning fat whilst also helping to build muscle due to the resistance aspect of the exercise. It’s also a non-weight bearing type of exercise helping to reduce risks of injury.
A study by the University of Glasgow in 2017 found that cycling in particular could cut your risk of cancer and heart disease by almost half.
Cycling doesn’t only benefit our physical health, there are many other reasons to take to two wheels. Here are just a few examples:
- Helping to save you some money: With the increase in the cost of living it could help save money instead of paying for petrol and other car expenses. The cost of maintaining a bike is significantly cheaper than a car.
- It’s a fun hobby to have: Instead of getting stuck in traffic jams or using public transport you can explore different routes to your workplace and enjoy the outside more.
- It significantly reduces your carbon footprint: Taking public transport like the bus would cut down your footprint by half but if you want to go further, cycling is an even better option.
- Mental health benefits: Cycling can help with anxiety and depression as endorphins are released in your brain helping you to feel more positive.
- It is an easy way to fit exercise into your routine of the day: Many people don’t go to the gym because they simply don’t have the time or are too tired after work. Cycling to and from work helps to keep you in shape whilst giving you the time to improve your health.
How to start cycling to work
We’ve covered the many benefits but how do you, and your people, actually get started? It can seem daunting if you aren’t road aware or are concerned about cycling in traffic. This is a really helpful article written by Bike Week. From using route planners to cycle training and riding with friends, it’s a very good checklist of the things you’ll need to be aware of before you start. As they say, follow our advice, and you’ll wonder why you ever had doubts.
Read: Bike Week: Guide to cycling to work
How does the Cycle to Work scheme work?
According to the Cycle to Work Scheme, research shows that 51% of employers would like to see more of their employees cycling to work. What’s more, over 40,000 people have been helped to do this by the scheme. This scheme is also beneficial for productivity in the workplace as it can increase some aspects of someone’s cognition, such as memory, reasoning and planning ability.
It’s clearly a worthwhile and well supported scheme, so how can you get your organisation involved?
The employee needs to register for the scheme through a Cycle to Work Scheme Provider. The employee then selects a bicycle. There used to be a limit of £1,000, but this limit was scrapped in 2019. Their employer pays for the bike. Employers will save 13 – 15% on the cost of the bike because the employer NI contribution is lower. Employers also officially own the bike and hire it out to your employee. Over time, the employee pays the employer back and takes ownership.
Read: How employers can help staff embrace the Cycle to Work Scheme
More about Cycle to Work Day 2023
The annual Cycle to Work Day is an opportunity for employers to raise awareness of how you can help your employees take to the saddle, get fit and lower your carbon footprint as an employer. It’s also a day to experience the brilliant benefits everyday cycling offers – mental, physical and financial – first-hand.
Read: Cycle to Work Day 2023
In conclusion
Cycling to Work Day isn’t just about a journey to the office, the day celebrates cycling in general. But, for organisations who want to help their employees become more active and assist with the funding, it’s become a very popular scheme to help people do just that. For employers, promoting the scheme and awareness of the day itself is a good way to ignite interest in cycling and the many health and productivity benefits it can bring. And once they get going, many find it’s as easy as riding a bike!
Photo by Max Bender on Unsplash
