Fix Your Bike Voucher Scheme

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nickyboy

Norven Mankey
Of the four local bike shops only one has registered. Of course they're busy fixing bikes anyway but they aren't seeing the bigger picture. Get a new customer with a £50 voucher and give them good service and they'll be back again in the future. They should register and then post on the local facebook groups that they are taking the vouchers.

I do despair at the unprofessionalism of the LBS at times. I suspect most vouchers will channel through the likes of Halfords
 

figbat

Slippery scientist
Eligibility
The scheme is open to anyone in England who has an unused cycle in need of a repair.

However, as there are a limited number of vouchers available, please consider the needs of others before applying for a voucher and do not delay making planned repairs outside of the scheme should your circumstances allow it.


I'm not sure how they will identify that a bicycle is "unused" or "in need of repair" and I wonder if or how a repairer would flag a request being made for a clearly well-used bike. If you wheel your 12 grand road bike in for a service, will they bat an eyelid?

Reading the eligibility above though, I have decided not to apply. I have bikes that could do with a once-over and maybe a cable or brake pad here and there, but none of this is keeping me away from cycling and none of the bikes I would describe as "unused" - some are used more than others. Without intending to boast, £50 is neither here nor there for me but it might be the difference between someone getting off their overweight, inactive, potentially NHS-burdening arse and getting out there. And for that reason, ahm oot.
 

Adam4868

Guru
Of the four local bike shops only one has registered. Of course they're busy fixing bikes anyway but they aren't seeing the bigger picture. Get a new customer with a £50 voucher and give them good service and they'll be back again in the future. They should register and then post on the local facebook groups that they are taking the vouchers.

I do despair at the unprofessionalism of the LBS at times. I suspect most vouchers will channel through the likes of Halfords
Agree I messaged a local shop to ask and got the reply of "I'm going to see how it goes a bit first,then if it's too much paperwork,hassle I'm not bothering !"
Son's mountainbike is trashed and I'm sick of fixing it !
 
Location
London
Eligibility
The scheme is open to anyone in England who has an unused cycle in need of a repair.

However, as there are a limited number of vouchers available, please consider the needs of others before applying for a voucher and do not delay making planned repairs outside of the scheme should your circumstances allow it.


I'm not sure how they will identify that a bicycle is "unused" or "in need of repair" and I wonder if or how a repairer would flag a request being made for a clearly well-used bike. If you wheel your 12 grand road bike in for a service, will they bat an eyelid?

Reading the eligibility above though, I have decided not to apply. I have bikes that could do with a once-over and maybe a cable or brake pad here and there, but none of this is keeping me away from cycling and none of the bikes I would describe as "unused" - some are used more than others. Without intending to boast, £50 is neither here nor there for me but it might be the difference between someone getting off their overweight, inactive, potentially NHS-burdening arse and getting out there. And for that reason, ahm oot.
Thanks for the quote.
I think the needs of others bit important.
I don"t think the scheme is aimed at most of the likes of us, who don't need to discover the benefits of cycling.
 

Adam4868

Guru
Thanks for the quote.
I think the needs of others bit important.
I don"t think the scheme is aimed at most of the likes of us, who don't need to discover the benefits of cycling.
Why not ? If someone offers the money to be used for a repair it helps me and a local business is that not a good thing ?
 

DCLane

Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
Eligibility
The scheme is open to anyone in England who has an unused cycle in need of a repair.

However, as there are a limited number of vouchers available, please consider the needs of others before applying for a voucher and do not delay making planned repairs outside of the scheme should your circumstances allow it.


I'm not sure how they will identify that a bicycle is "unused" or "in need of repair" and I wonder if or how a repairer would flag a request being made for a clearly well-used bike. If you wheel your 12 grand road bike in for a service, will they bat an eyelid?

Reading the eligibility above though, I have decided not to apply. I have bikes that could do with a once-over and maybe a cable or brake pad here and there, but none of this is keeping me away from cycling and none of the bikes I would describe as "unused" - some are used more than others. Without intending to boast, £50 is neither here nor there for me but it might be the difference between someone getting off their overweight, inactive, potentially NHS-burdening arse and getting out there. And for that reason, ahm oot.

The one they worked on this morning was a TT bike. And yes, one of the repairs they did was absolutely needed.

The other's a road bike. This needs two things doing plus one checked. Two of those are also needed.

I'm comfortable that this would cover it.
 
The only independent shop near me is 10 miles away, and they told me not to bother bringing my bike as their shop was full to the rafters with jobs, when I enquired about booking it in a few weeks time, he told me they don't take bookings, its first come first serve in the morning and I'd have to try my luck in a few weeks time when they'd have space to store the bike. Since they can't guarantee a slot, and you've only got a finite time to use a voucher I can't use them in line with the scheme guidance. I'm reluctant to use Evans on account that I've always had to take my bikes back after service for them to fix something they buggered up, which makes the scheme more hassle than it's worth. It's a shame as my old bike needs a hub service, and maybe a brake refurbishment and this scheme would have been perfect, I'm not good when it comes to hubs.
 

SkipdiverJohn

Deplorable Brexiteer
Location
London
Throw it my way as I have no qualms about using one.

So much for socialists having principles. Expecting the taxpayer to subsidise your cycling activity. How about paying your own way?
 
Location
London
Why not ? If someone offers the money to be used for a repair it helps me and a local business is that not a good thing ?
I suppose I have the idea that its aim is to help get folk into cycling for whom cycling is a bit of a mystery and don't already regularly use a bike for fun, exercise, monkey business, shopping, work or whatever and who are somewhat daunted by the mysterious contraption lurking at the back of the shed. They can then improve their health and relieve pressure on other transport. I had the idea that most folks on here were regular bike users anyway, tho tis true some seem to have a primary interest in the politics board. The vouchers will doubtless go very soon so the local businesses will benefit whatever.
I have no idea what your mechanical capabilities are - if you can I'd do it yourself.
 

Adam4868

Guru
I suppose I have the idea that its aim is to help get folk into cycling for whom cycling is a bit of a mystery and don't already regularly use a bike for fun, exercise, monkey business, shopping, work or whatever and who are somewhat daunted by the mysterious contraption lurking at the back of the shed. They can then improve their health and relieve pressure on other transport. I had the idea that most folks on here were regular bike users anyway, tho tis true some seem to have a primary interest in the politics board. The vouchers will doubtless go very soon so the local businesses will benefit whatever.
I have no idea what your mechanical capabilities are - if you can I'd do it yourself.
If that were the case maybe they should have aimed the voucher scheme at the unemployed or low earners claiming benefits then.
Couple of things can I fix a bike myself yes.
But when I want to I'll take it to be fixed same as our car.Sometimes it's more beneficial financially for me to drop the bike of on my way to work and pick it up after.Thus giving my local bike mechanic work aswell.
As I said to John if I want to use the voucher I will and not have a ounce of guilt with it.I pay my tax like everyone else 😁
 

BoldonLad

Not part of the Elite
Location
South Tyneside
ummm I am a taxpayer...to the tune of about 20k last year not to mention VAT, VED, insurance tax, fuel duty, booze duty (not that much to be fair) and Lord knows what else. I don’t have kids and pay for private health (My choice obviously). I’ve continued working... and spending enthusiastically through lockdown :whistle:

Seemingly, it‘s moot now but maybe it would have been nice to get something back for a change other than crap roads to cycle on and my bins emptied once a fortnight (I even had to pay the council for bulky waste removal yesterday). :whistle:

How does one opt out of paying for the the welfare state other than by dying? :whistle:

How should the treasury better spend my hard earned in a way that would benefit all including myself?

Don't think that will work, there is always inheritance tax ;)
 
Location
London
If that were the case maybe they should have aimed the voucher scheme at the unemployed or low earners claiming benefits then.
In view of some of the comments on here, yes, some form of targeting which didn't involve large losses to admin would I think have been best. See my comments above.
No more to say really or this will all descend into the politics pit.
 
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