Green Room Get On Your Bike
Lee Bell looks into a greener way of getting to work
Green Room: Get On Your Bike
Other Recent Green Room Articles
For those of us commuting to and from work, overcrowded trains riddled with flu, tailbacks meandering to the end of the driveway, and moody bus drivers are not so unfamiliar experiences. And if that’s not irritating enough, the unpredictability of public transport and rush hour delays can also have a detrimental affect on our punctuality at work, our health and fitness, and the environment.
Cycling to work is one obvious way to solve all the quandaries listed above, and unfortunately, it’s one that is rarely taken advantage of. Whether it’s down to the initial cost, the running fees, or merely a complete indolence of the public, the majority of commuters don’t cycle to work. But the good news here is that the government have constructed a concept to try and resolve just that.
The tax free Bikes for Work scheme (or ‘Cyclescheme’), offers a tax free incentive in order to get more people to - you guessed it - cycle to work. Here’s how it works: the scheme is operated through the employer, who buys their employee’s bike for the pre-VAT price, thus saving 17.5% on the initial cost. The employer then hires the bike to the employee for a fixed price per month, being taken from the employee’s wage before tax deductions. When the year of hire is up, the employee can then choose to buy the bike from their employer.
Bill Cunningham, of Specialized Concept Store in Harrogate, talks us through the scheme. “This is an excellent opportunity for companies to promote that they are supporting the environment, and you can save nearly half price on our bikes.” He continues. “For example, if you were to buy a £600 bike from us, in effect it would cost just over £300, because the hire fee is taken off the gross salary, saving tax and National Insurance.”
Bill claims that Specialized is the perfect place for either beginners wanting to use the government scheme to purchase their first bike, or experienced bikers in need of an update. “Our aim is to provide the full experience for cyclists whether they are serious road riders, or bikers just commuting to work. We have a measuring system in which we do an in depth bike fit after a full physical assessment of the customer.”
Given the high cost of petrol prices and the congestion on the roads, if you live within commuter distance of your workplace then there is no better time to assess your commute and take steps to economise. Although cycling to work might not be practical for everyone, it is certainly a cost-effective and healthier alternative, and thanks to the Cyclescheme, it seems the government have made it one step easier for people to get on their bikes.
For more information, visit www.cyclescheme.co.uk or contact Specialized Concept Store, Unit 1, 8 West Park, Harrogate, HG1 1BL, 01423 528240, www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk
Posted on Wednesday 3rd March 2010
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