Employers guarantee facilities for cyclists
Wednesday 28 October 2009
The Countess of Chester NHS Trust and Cheshire West & Chester Council are among more than 70 major public and private sector employers across the country today pledging to implement a new “cycle to work” guarantee in a bid to transform the numbers cycling to work.
By signing up to the new ‘Cycle to Work Guarantee’, public and private sector employers are committing to provide their staff with safe bike storage, changing facilities and access to the Government’s generous tax break scheme - 'Cycle to Work' - for new bikes and cycling equipment. Evidence from employers already providing such support for their staff shows that it dramatically increases the proportion who cycle to work.
The Cycle to Work Guarantee is being promoted by Government and employers together to offer employees a healthy and green option to get to and from work. Typically, a third or more of staff of large urban employers live within half an hour bike ride of their place of work, but only about 3 per cent currently cycle to work.
The project at the Countess of Chester NHS Trust is led by Alexander Ford, who is also chair of the national NHS cycling group, NHS Spokes. Working closely with the hospital is Cheshire West & Chester Council’s “Cycle Chester” programme manager Bethan Vaughan, whose role is to promote cycling across the city. Chester is one of the chosen cities for the Cycling City, Cycling Towns project, with £2.4m worth of investment going into transforming the city into an area where cycling becomes a genuine option.
Most central Government Departments have signed up to the Cycle To Work Guarantee as well as major companies including BSkyB, EON and GSK. Dozens of local authorities and hospitals have also agreed to commit to the Guarantee, which is aimed at large employers. Other large employers will now be invited to follow suit.
Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said:
“If proper facilities were more widely available, I believe far more people would cycle to work. At present only 3 per cent do so. We could double or treble that figure with proper bike storage and changing facilities and safe cycle routes - and that’s my aim.”
“For employees, cycling is a great way to save money while getting fit. And for all of us, it will cut rush hour congestion and reduce carbon emissions.
"We've seen that this approach can 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."
Employers who sign up to the Guarantee commit to provide the following:
- 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
- Offsetting the cost of cycling equipment for staff and saving on 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
North West Regional Minister Phil Woolas, said:
"Cycling is not just good for your health, it's also good for the environment. The four areas in the North West that are Cycling Demonstration Towns - Chester, Southport, Blackpool and Lancaster are showing the rest of the region the benefits of cycling to work. I would urge employers in both the public and private sectors to join in and sign up to the Cycling Guarantee."
Alexander Ford, Chairman of Chester Health Park Cycling User Group & NHS Spokes, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for all current and future NHS commuting cyclists. I am very pleased that the Countess of Chester Hospital is backing the Cycle to Work Guarantee. It will increase awareness of cycling and further improve measures that the Countess has already put in place over the past year, including investment in cycling facilities such as our new cycle shelters. Eighty-seven employees have so far benefited from our Cycle to Work schemes."
Bethan Vaughan said: “"Chester is showing the way for other towns and cities in how to become more cycle-friendly and I would encourage other employers to follow the example set by Cheshire West and Chester Council and the Countess of Chester Trust by signing up to this latest initiative."
Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham said:
“Getting on your bike for the journey to work is a great way to get fit and healthy.
“But we can’t expect people to cycle to work if they can’t have a shower or store their bike safely when they get there - that’s why we need a Cycle to Work Guarantee from employers. Lots of NHS organisations have already signed up and are helping their staff cycle their way to better health. I’m pleased they are leading by example and I hope it will become standard practice across the NHS.
“The Cycle to Work Guarantee supports Bike4Life which is part of our Change4Life campaign to get the nation eating well, moving more and living longer.”
Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said;
“Cycling is booming. We had unprecedented success on the track and the road in Beijing, the numbers taking up cycling as a sport are increasing, and more and more schools are offering it as one of their options for PE.
"Now we hope the Cycle to Work Guarantee – and the support this important initiative is getting from public and private sector employers - will spur on more people to use a bike to get to and from work, with all the benefits that can bring in health, fitness and to the environment.”
Communities Secretary John Denham said:
"Councils, as local leaders, major employers and climate change champions, have a real responsibility to encourage residents and staff to cycle to work.
"Many people want to leave the car in the driveway and pedal in for a healthier, greener commute so it’s important that councils provide facilities and encourage businesses to sign up to this guarantee."
The ‘Cycle to Work Guarantee’ is the latest in a series of initiatives to improve cycling facilities, capitalising on the fact that nearly half of all people in Britain over the age of 11 own a bike and two in five of all journeys are under two miles.
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.”
This announcement follows the launch last month of a major £14m package to transform facilities for cyclists at rail stations. This includes 'Cycle Hubs' at 10 major rail stations and10,000 extra cycle parking spaces at rail stations across the country. The new cycle hubs will include extra cycle storage facilities, repair services, hire schemes and improved cycle access to and from the stations.
This initiative also supports the Government's Change4Life campaign to support people to 'eat well, move more and live longer'. As part of this Bike4Life is helping people across the country get on their bikes, one way to make small changes that can bring short and long term benefits to health.
