Vouchers for easy ride
FIVE-MINUTE GUIDE TO... GETTING BACK ON YOUR BIKE
THE Covid-19 pandemic has encouraged the nation to get back on its bikes, and now the Government is looking to accelerate the process by offering a bicycle repair voucher worth £50.
The scheme is designed to cut obesity and ease congestion, and is available to anybody living in England, up to a maximum of two vouchers per household.
Vouchers are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, but early demand was so great that the official website, Fixyourbikevoucherscheme.est.org.uk, buckled under the strain.
The first 50,000 vouchers were snapped up within 24 hours of last Tuesday’s launch, but up to 500,000 may be issued in total, released in waves to prevent repairers from being swamped by demand.
So it pays to get a handle on how the scheme works.
Vouchers can only be used with mechanics and bike repairers that register with the scheme, including high street chains Evans Cycles and Halfords.
They typically cover the cost of a standard service and the replacement of a basic component such as an inner tube or cable.
Bicycling is back in fashion, with almost two million Britons buying a bike in the early stages of the Covid-19 lockdown. Bike thefts have increased along with sales yet more than half of owners do not have insurance, despite spending £300 on average, and some paying up to £1,000, according to Comparethemarket.com.
Head of home insurance Chris King said you can cover bikes under your household contents insurance policy, usually as an add-on for a small extra premium: “Read the terms and conditions to see when your bike is covered or excluded.”
Your insurer may refuse to pay out if your bike was not secured correctly with an approved lock, or was left unattended for more than 12 hours. It helps if you can show proof of ownership, such as photographs or receipts.
There may also be a maximum payout, so if you have an expensive model, make sure the full cost is covered.
Andrew Moore, home claims director at More Than, said many contents policies only cover bicycle theft from your home or garage: “Make sure your bike is covered away from home too.”
Almost three in 10 people have had their bike stolen, with the average loss £311, research from Halfords shows.
Its bike security expert Susan Crawford said, along with photographing your bike, you should note the frame number and any unique features: “This will help you, the public and police identify it if it gets stolen.”
Make bike thieves’ lives difficult by using both multiple locks and a strong chain to attach it to a firm, fixed object. “Do not secure your bike to a tree or anything thin that can be cut through,” said Crawford.
Secure your bike in a well-lit area, ideally covered by CCTV, and remember to lock your shed or garage if the bike is stored there, she added.
David Bott, senior partner at specialist cycling accident solicitors Bott and Co, said cycling will become more risky as cars return to the roads post-lockdown: “Wearing a helmet is key to avoiding life-threatening injuries and can also help towards any compensation claim if you do have an accident.”