► What is the cycle to work scheme?

The cycle to work scheme allows you to save money when purchasing a bike, by deducting the cost of the bike over 12 months from your salary.

The Salary Sacrifice is taken from your gross salary (before tax) which means that you will pay less Income Tax and National insurance.

All you do is ask your employer to enrol their business in the scheme, something hundreds of companies of all sizes have already done throughout the UK. The scheme is run on a voucher basis with the participating bike shop of your choice, often involving a specialist company to take care of all the paperwork.

We deal with all of the major cycle to work type companies, including, Cyclescheme, Ride2Work, Smehci, Salary extras, Halfords and many more.

► How much can I save?

Savings start at a minimum of 25% (including an End of Hire fee) but most people save more. Use the cyclescheme calculator to estimate how much you could save...

http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/calculator
► Why cycle to work?
It really is a no-brainer... but here are the top six reasons why more and more people are cycling to work:
  1. You get fit How fit? People who cycle regularly are as fit as an average person ten years younger, and can expect to live an average of two years longer.
  2. You get better at your job Cycling to work has been proven to increase concentration, make you more alert and reduce stress.
  3. You breathe easier in the city Cyclists inhale far fewer exhaust fumes than your average traffic-jammed motorist.
  4. You get there quicker During typical rush-hour congestion, bikes are reckoned to be twice as fast from A to B, on average.
  5. You save money, every day How much was that last tankful of petrol? How much is a kilo of bananas? With fuel prices through the roof, you could save a small fortune in no time.
  6. You do your bit for the environment and, with one less car on the road, ease traffic congestion. Around 2 kilos of carbon are saved for every short journey taken by bike instead of car.

Facts and figures come from the Government's Cycling England programme
More benefits and more detailed explanations can be found on these CTC web pages
► So why aren't more people doing it?

They are! The biggest increase in commuter cycling has been in London, where people make over 500,000 bike journeys per day – up a staggering 90% on a decade ago, last year estimated to be growing at at a rate of over 20,000 per day. Sunderland has a great network of cycle routes (see this PDF map) and very good dedicated cycle lanes... the question becomes: why aren't you doing it?
► How does the scheme work?

The scheme has to be run through your employer, who effectively leases the bike to you. You buy the bike with a voucher for the discounted amount and pay it back to your employer over the year. Once this monthly "salary sacrifice" ends, you can normally own the bike by paying a percentage of the value of the bike. Unlike some restricitve chain store schemes, if the company you work for joins up with Cyclescheme, Salary Extras, or any of the cycle to work schemes, you get to choose a bike from any participating bike shop, meaning you get the bike you want, from a specialist shop near you. See the Cyclescheme FAQ for more details.
► How do I get started?

Talk to your boss or personnel officer about joining up. It might be useful to send them a link to this page. To get a voucher you just need to get your employer on board with one of the cycle to work schemes, who send them an email pack containing a contract and general details on running the scheme. Once the contract is signed, they send an approved employee hire agreement for you to sign at which time you are free to come to Cycleworld for a quote. We send the quote to Cyclescheme, who invoice your company and send you a secure voucher to redeem in-store.
We've found the best schemes are the ones where a number of people start to Cycle to Work together. It's a great way to socialise, get fit, lose weight, save money and get a new bike at a discounted price. What are you waiting for?
We can help you, with free advice and extensive past experience, to get the ball rolling and see it through to your new bike. Just contact us, anytime, and our knowledgeable staff will be more than happy to help.