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Cycle to Work Guarantee: what is it?

Through providing better workplace facilities for cyclists, the Cycle to Work Guarantee aims to boost the numbers of people who commute by bike.

Together, the private sector, public sector and government have set up the guarantee, to make it easier and cheaper for people to cycle to work.

Employers who sign up commit to provide workers with:

• secure, safe bike storage
  
• changing and locker facilities
  
• bike repair on or near site
  
• training, reward and incentive programmes to achieve targets for more cycling
  
• access to the government’s existing successful tax-break incentive, the Cycle to Work Scheme

Who has signed up?

Employers who have signed up already include:

• many central government departments
• BSkyB, EON, GSK and other major companies
• dozens of local authorities
• a number of hospitals

Other large employers will now be invited to follow suit. You can check if your employer has signed up by following the link below. If they have not, try sending them this link so they can find out more.

• Cycle to Work Guarantee Opens new window

Cycle to Work Scheme: tax breaks

The government’s existing Cycle to Work Scheme is one element of the new guarantee. If your employer takes part in the scheme, you will be able to get help to purchase a new bike or cycling equipment.

Under the scheme, the employer 'buys' the bike from an approved supplier who knows how the scheme works, and hires it to the employee. Detailed guidance for employers can be downloaded from the Department for Transport (DfT) website.

• Cycle to Work Scheme (guidance) Opens new window

Green and health benefits

Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said: "At present only 3 per cent of people cycle to work. We could double or treble that figure with proper bike storage, changing facilities and safe cycle routes."

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."

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. Now we hope the Cycle to Work Guarantee 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."

Further information

• Cycle to Work Guarantee (workplace facilities) Opens new window

• Cycle to Work Scheme (tax breaks) Opens new window

• Cycle to Work Guarantee (DfT) Opens new window

More from Directgov

• Employees: ways to be greener (environment and greener living section)

• Cycling safety (travel and transport section)