Setting up a cycle to work scheme

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delphi

New Member
Location
London
Hi all

I'm trying to get my company to set up a cycle to work scheme and have had the following questions asked of me:

1. Are we obliged to install shower facilities in every office / branch? If not, how do we manage personal hygiene problems?
2. Do we need to provide parking facilities / bike sheds?
Are we liable if the bike is stolen? If so, what is the cost?
What happens if the cyclist gets knocked over?
Do we enforce cyclists to wear fluorescent vests / helmets?
Do we enforce cyclists to install lights / bells to their bike?

- Essentially the company does not have the money or room to install shower facilities in all of it's 60 offices so I think that a carefully drafted policy on personal hygiene should cover this.
- Again no money or space for this but intend to say that anyone using the scheme will have to get insurance and it is their responsibility to find an appropriate place with an appropriate lock for their bike. Some offices will have a safe place but others won't
- obviously no liability on the companies part for accidents that occur but I wondered if anyone had any statistics that show how many cycling accidents there are compared to car accidents.
- I don't believe we need to enforce anything like this but perhaps have a policy suggesting some biking essentials potential commuters should consider and some links to commuting safety tips
- Obviously lights in the dark are part of the law but again this is not something we need to enforce ourselves but could put in as part of the safety suggestions

Has anyone got any suggestions for making this proposition a winner?
 
Some answers ..

delphi said:
Hi all

I'm trying to get my company to set up a cycle to work scheme and have had the following questions asked of me:

1. Are we obliged to install shower facilities in every office / branch? If not, how do we manage personal hygiene problems?
There's nothing in the scheme that forces the company to do this.
2. Do we need to provide parking facilities / bike sheds?
There's nothing in the scheme that forces the company to do this.
Are we liable if the bike is stolen? If so, what is the cost?
Au contraire, Blackadder, the employee is liable and has to pay back the full value of the bike to the company.
What happens if the cyclist gets knocked over?
Hopefully they won't be hurt.
Do we enforce cyclists to wear fluorescent vests / helmets?
Do we enforce cyclists to install lights / bells to their bike?
I don't think it can (or should) be enforced - especially for helmets, but let's not go there - but certainly your suggestion of recommendations is a good one.
- Essentially the company does not have the money or room to install shower facilities in all of it's 60 offices so I think that a carefully drafted policy on personal hygiene should cover this.
- Again no money or space for this but intend to say that anyone using the scheme will have to get insurance and it is their responsibility to find an appropriate place with an appropriate lock for their bike. Some offices will have a safe place but others won't
- obviously no liability on the companies part for accidents that occur but I wondered if anyone had any statistics that show how many cycling accidents there are compared to car accidents.
- I don't believe we need to enforce anything like this but perhaps have a policy suggesting some biking essentials potential commuters should consider and some links to commuting safety tips
- Obviously lights in the dark are part of the law but again this is not something we need to enforce ourselves but could put in as part of the safety suggestions

Has anyone got any suggestions for making this proposition a winner?
.. you could also point out to your company that they will make a saving on NI contributions. Good luck. I'm still working on mine. :smile:
 

Brains

Legendary Member
Location
Greenwich
Loads of questions and it's number 1 and 2 that are the important ones.

Insurance, hi viz, bike quality etc are all fluff as far as a company is concerned and can be dealt with by encouraging (paying for ??) a day of cycle training.

Is the company serious about cycling ?
What are the pro's and con's of having a large percentage of cyclists in the company.
If there is not room for showers and lockers in every branch, how about a few branches?
Can head office be set up as a shining example ?
(If not head office, then one of the up and coming offices ?)

On cycle parking, the basics are secure and covered.
Does the company provide any car parking space ? If so then this is the first target, each car space lost will provide bike parking for 15 bikes

Unfortunately my experience has been unless the MD or CEO cycles into work and is prepared to put money where his mouth is not a lot will happen.

Cycle to work schemes work on the basis of "if I build it, they will come"
The better the facilities
The more people that will use them
Each cyclist reduces the sickness level overall of the company considerably
Therefore cycle facilities will pay for themselves over a period of time

However getting that across to non-cyclists can be difficult
 

Brains

Legendary Member
Location
Greenwich
Re the cyclists and sickness issue, this also extends to people being in the office on time.

A friend has been running his own 20-30 person company for several years, he has had a 'pro-cyclist' policy since the beginning, and given two identical people to employ will always go for the cyclist. Hence I notice last time I dropped in there the cycle rack had more bikes than they have people in the company !

His reason for the policy is simple. Economics.
Cyclists turn up on time, don't have to leave early because of the traffic/strikes/trains etc and don't have as many days off sick.
 
OP
OP
D

delphi

New Member
Location
London
Thanks for your answers, I've covered of the reduced absence rate already but in answer to the question is the company serious about cycling - probably not. The people at the top aren't particularly but there are many employees that have enquired about the scheme and given the economy at the moment it would be nice to have something else to put down on the list of benefits to show the Company is thinking of them.

In terms of parking, there are no facilities to speak of and each branch is a small high street presence so there isn't any scope for finding space. The ones that will have a safe place are ones with a back office bit where the bike can be placed. Realistically if more than one person decided to cycle they would have to lock the bike outside somewhere of their choice that seemed safe.

Chances of the company paying for a day of cycle training are minimum but I would look to find local schemes for people that are reasonably priced or free.
 

Norm

Guest
I've just got my scheme signed off, at about 10pm last night. :angry: And yes, everyone is laughing at it but, well, screw them, I get the bike I want, the company makes a small profit from the deal and the government pays. Winners all round. :biggrin:

It's a Cycle To Work policy, not a cycling at work policy so your obligations are no more than for any other form of commuting. Personally, I want to shower more after 5 minutes on the Tube than I have done at the end of any bike journey. Sweat doesn't smell, it's the bacteria that take hold after a day or two of being unwashed that causes the smell.

The policy should make suggestions about cycling safety but it can not (and should not) enforce anything more than the traffic regs, as you might be taking on some liability for an injury if you do.

IMO.
 

killiekosmos

Veteran
In addition to the helpful responses above, I'd add the following:

As your employer is a high-street retailer there may well be suiable bike racks in some of the towns where branches are located. In my town we have lots of Sheffield stands and at least two lockable bike stores (which you can rent). Get branches to ask local councils what cycling facilities are in town centres.

Staff may not cycle the full journey - some may cycle to a station then finish journey by public transport.

Good luck
 

jonny jeez

Legendary Member
Hi Delphi.

This is one of those threads that allows me to put my "work head" on. In basic terms, I design and create commercial office interiors (or rather, my company does), so I have a fair amount of experience of the issues raised in points 1+2 of your thread.

If it helps I would say that schemes that are set up by my clients with either the wrong intention or inadequate infrastructure will all eventually fail. It’s a pretty hard "sell" to encourage staff to take to their bikes (with all the negative press on danger, personal hygiene and weather) without some kind of "perceived" benefit to get them over these negatives...other than saving a bunch on a new bike that they weren't planning on buying anyway.

Equally I've had many clients invest in fantastic facilities (showers, changing rooms, drying rooms and secure storage) all to no effect as they have overlooked the personal issues to ensure that staff "buy into" the scheme.

Admirable as it is, from your description, it sounds as if you plan to start a new scheme along the lines of "Congratulations everyone, The company has agreed that you are all now allowed to cycle into work" and that's a bout it. Sorry if that sounds harsh, I don't mean to knock your initiative, infact I admire it.

I would suggest you think carefully about how to encourage more cycling (and indeed why you/your company wishes to do so) before delivering a scheme to your staff.

Maybe approach it from a different angle and start some form of charity cycle ride/event that will allow staff to "buy into" cycling whilst they helping others (Lands end to JOG type of thing that requires lots of training) this will create an "elite" membership or team (everyone want to be part of an elite team)…then, before they know it, they'll be riding to work (as they train for the big event), getting healthy, not getting into accidents and spreading the word themselves.

Good luck with the whole thing. PM me if you feel I can offer any more advice.



PS...Last month I offered a client a staff riding/traning scheme to introduce new cyclist's to the process of commuting (they were lconsidering spending a small fortune on infastructure). If they take me up on it, I'll be looking to find sponsors or "ride buddies" to take groups on one or two commute's into their office from set locations around the south east...perhaps you can do the same?
 

Norm

Guest
jonny jeez said:
Maybe approach it from a different angle and start some form of charity cycle ride/event that will allow staff to "buy into" cycling whilst they helping others (Lands end to JOG type of thing that requires lots of training) this will create an "elite" membership or team (everyone want to be part of an elite team)…then, before they know it, they'll be riding to work (as they train for the big event), getting healthy, not getting into accidents and spreading the word themselves.
You need to be careful how you work that, because of the requirement for "most" of the use to be commuting. Not insurmountable, just something to bear in mind.
 

jonny jeez

Legendary Member
Norm said:
You need to be careful how you work that, because of the requirement for "most" of the use to be commuting. Not insurmountable, just something to bear in mind.


Good point, maybe a City mileathon thing then...anything really that gets them onto bikes ans shows a positive model to aspire to.

PS, Like the sig, big fan myself (I can even scratch a few of his/their tracks on my own guitar!!)
 
Norm said:
I've just got my scheme signed off, at about 10pm last night. :hyper: And yes, everyone is laughing at it but, well, screw them, I get the bike I want, the company makes a small profit from the deal and the government pays. Winners all round. :biggrin:

It's a Cycle To Work policy, not a cycling at work policy so your obligations are no more than for any other form of commuting. Personally, I want to shower more after 5 minutes on the Tube than I have done at the end of any bike journey. Sweat doesn't smell, it's the bacteria that take hold after a day or two of being unwashed that causes the smell.

The policy should make suggestions about cycling safety but it can not (and should not) enforce anything more than the traffic regs, as you might be taking on some liability for an injury if you do.

IMO.
Why are they laughing? :ohmy::sad:
 

Norm

Guest
"You're going to do what?"

See posts elsewhere about my size (120-odd kg) and about how people tend to equate fat and fit, and they are questioning my ability to climb stairs, let alone cycle to work.

Life goes on, the sun still rises in the morning. See my sig for further information about my attitude to their need for pigeon-holing. :hyper:
 

Norm

Guest
Here's hoping. ;)
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