Edinburgh is grinding to a halt - strangled by a mounting transportation crisis. Most people travel five miles or less to work, yet many come by car. At a time when there is serious concern about congestion and pollution and when even the Government has admitted that new roads in urban areas only exacerbate the problems, alternatives must be found - and quickly.
Of course, cycling's not for everyone. Many are either too scared or too content reading a paper on the bus or train to contemplate taking on the traffic 'head-to-head'. Yet with a bit of encouragement and advice, it's a fair bet that some of your employees would switch to a bike and change their whole way of life in the process.
It that sounds like so much 'pie in the sky', remember:
In continental cities like Delft and Munster, between 40 and 50 per cent of all journeys are made by bike. In Oxford and York it's about 20 per cent. Compare that with Edinburgh's measly 2 per cent.
Seven in ten of all personal journeys - and six in ten car trips - are under five miles long.
In a 'Commuter Challenge' race a cyclist took 16 minutes to ride the four mile journey into the centre of the city, compared with 38 minutes for the car driver and 42 minutes for the bus passenger.
A healthier, more productive workforce
According to doctors only one in ten Britons take enough exercise.
Cycling benefits the heart and lungs, lowers blood pressure, and helps in weight control.
Cyclists are more alert, less prone to stress and take fewer days off sick.
Freed from timetables and traffic jams, people arrive on time.
Cheaper business travel
Many short trips on company business could easily be made by bike. Think of the savings in taxi and bus fares, and car travel payments, in return for payment of a reasonable cycle mileage allowance.
Cheaper parking
Parking for 10 bikes can be provided for the cost of a single car park space. And think of the money saved from the need to supply a subsidised car parking space.
Lower company car bills
Providing a company bike and a cash alternative will encourage more employees to forgo a company car, cutting the cost of the scheme.
A 'greener' corporate image
In these competitive times, forward thinking companies are keen to promote a 'green' image as a means to tapping into the potential market of the environmentally aware consumer. A pro-cycling policy will not only enhance your green credentials with customers and potential employees.
Lower travel costs
No more season tickets, bus passes, petrol bills and parking fees. A bike costs only a fraction as much to run as a car, and pays for itself in a few months.
Better health
A 35 year-old man cycling 12 miles a day extends his life expectancy by two-and-a-half years compared with someone who takes no exercise, says the British Medical Association.
Throw out the multi-gym! Cycling combines getting to work with exercise. Long distance commuters can combine cycling with a train journey, or drive to the outskirts of the city and cycle the rest of the way, avoiding the worst of the traffic.
More fun
For many riding through a park or on a cycle track opens up a whole lost world of peace, fresh air and sheer pleasure of being that much closer to nature for a part of the journey.
The main barriers stopping most people from getting on their bikes are:
fear of traffic
lack of adequate parking, changing, washing and storage facilities at work.
overestimating the physical demands of cycling.
1. Overcome obstacles
Survey existing cycle usage
Ask your staff about their attitudes to cycling - then set realistic targets for increasing the numbers who cycle.
Install cycle parking
If you maintain a car park, convert some of the spaces for cycle parking. Put in Sheffield "inverted 'U'-style" cycle racks or a set of lockable cycle cages. If no car park is provided, use other space within the company grounds or ask the city council to set up cycle cages nearby, and offer to cover part of the cost.
Provide changing and washing facilities
Install showers in your washrooms if possible, and assign a locker to each cyclist for storage of cycling gear and clothing.
Make cycling safer
Put beginners in touch with the regulars in the firm. An experienced cycling commuter living near a novice may well agree to 'buddy' him or her on the trip for the first few days or weeks.
2. Give Incentives
Company bikes
Company cars are now a much less attractive 'perk' than they used to be. Why not offer staff a company bike plus a cash sum instead? Alternatively, buy in some bikes for use on company business, and offer an interest-free loan for a bike, just as you might for a season ticket.
Mileage allowances
Reimburse your cyclists for using their bikes on company business. The allowance should be on a pence-per-mile basis and ideally match the rate offered for using the smallest cc car - say 35 pence per mile.
Maintenance
Ensure that cycling staff have access to priority maintenance and repair services, either 'in-house' or through the local bikeshop. These can be treated as tax-deductible expense.
3. Promote cycling in the workplace
Publicise your cycling initiative through staff newspapers, pay packets and notice boards.
Set up a bicycle user group (BUG) to offer support, advice and encouragement to cyclists and organise social rides and events.
Organise a 'bike to work' day and combine it with a 'cyclists' breakfast.
For
further information contact SPOKES, St Martin's Church, 232 Dalry Road
Edinburgh
EH11 2JG Tel: 0131 313 2114 (a/phone)
Why start a BUG?
Support for cycling within the organisation can encourage decision makers to provide facilities for cyclists.
The benefits to the employer
A growing number of employers now recognise the benefits of encouraging their staff to be more healthy. Cycling is one way to promote health.
People who cycle to work regularly are more productive and take less time off sick than non-cycling employees. With fewer staff using their cars, less space is required for car parking.
Pro-cycling organisations are seen as caring and environmentally aware employers.
No problem with traffic jams - cyclists arrive at work more alert and less frustrated.
The benefits to the individual
Cycling is a good way of staying fit and healthy. Research shows that regular cycling can halve the risk of coronary heart disease.
Cycling may save you money compared with using a car.
In the rush hour, it's often faster to use a bike than public transport or a car.
It's usually easier to park a bike than a car.
step 1.
Find out how many staff are interested in starting a group. You could contact them by memo, e-mail, company newsletter or by leaving a note on parked bicycles. Remember that many non-cyclists might cycle if conditions were better. Try getting them involved too. Find out what prevents people from cycling to work (e.g. Iack of facilities, being unfit, cost, change of routine, safety or security).
step 2.
Gaining support of one or two managers will make it easier to take your ideas forward. Target senior staff who cycle, or recognise the benefits of cycling.
step 3.
Hold your first meeting. Keep it short - don't expect people to give up large chunks of their free time.
Get names and numbers of people attending.
Decide if you want to charge members a small fee.
Set out your BUG's aims and draw up an action plan.
Remember, people may just want to support the group rather than actually spend time on projects!!!
You could work towards getting:
Secure cycle parking.
Showers, changing facilities or lockers for cycle clothing.
Suitable levels of travel expenses for cycle journeys in work time.
A newsletter, or contributing to your staff newsletter.
You will also need to decide how you will liaise with management to achieve these aims.
After the discussion, identify what tasks need to be done and allocate them to different people.
Step 4.
You are now ready to present your ideas to management. Use your contact identified in step 2 to advise you on the best approach. You may need to present to a single person or a group.
Suggestions for your first visit.
Book an appointment (time and length).
Have a copy of your action plan typed up (the presentation may need to be discussed with other colleagues)
Be ready to answer questions on problems (e.g. financial outlay, space, etc.). Grants may be available from the local council or environmental groups. Not all changes require financial outlay. Some improvements may save the organisation money.
Be positive when you're selling the benefits of cycling.
Show support for cycling exists within the organisation.
Present information about how good cycling is for staff, the organisation and the community. Stress the cost effectiveness of cycling. The organisation may benefit from favourable local press.
Fix a date in the future for a further meeting.
If your initial proposal isn't accepted, don't give up. Perhaps you may need to adjust your objectives. Keep your goals simple and realistic to start with.
Step 5.
Once the group is established there are many ways to keep up the impetus, for example:
Raise the profile of cycling by supporting events like National Bike Week and Bike to Work Day.
Arrange social events and encourage new cyclists.
Promote your group in the local press.
Reprinted from the leaflet produced by Graham Simmonds, Bristol Area Specialist Health Promotion Service (on their WEB site at http://sun1.bham.ac.uk/c.j.sparke/bubug/startbug.htm)
Tel: (0117) 959 5464
FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact SPOKES, the Lothian Cycle Campaign.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|