BE A CYCLE COMMUTER
As the sunny weather boosts your energy levels, it’s time to consider a two-wheeled commute to work
Life in recent years has shown us that getting to work under our own steam is a whole lot better for our all-round health and that of the planet. And with hybrid working now the norm, its time to consider alternative ways of getting around and choose to make more journeys by bike.
Not only will a two-wheel commute boost your fitness, improve your mood and save you money, but it will also help to protect the environment. Indeed, a study published in the journal Global Environmental
Change shows that even swapping just one weekly car trip for a cycle commute could significantly reduce your carbon footprint by about
0.5 tonnes over a year.
It’s good for your health, too.
Data shows that bike commuters have a lower risk of being stressed than non-bike commuters. Plus, cycling will improve both your cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory systems, future-proofing your health.
BUYING A BIKE
Don’t have a trusty steed to ride on?
Purchasing a bike doesn’t have to be a huge investment. If you’re employed, you could use the
Cycle to Work Scheme to spread the cost of your bike over monthly tax-free instalments. This could save you between 32 and 47 per cent, depending on your tax bracket, which would make purchasing a bike more aordable than a daily coee habit. And that is where
Green Commute Initiative (GCI; greencommuteinitiative.uk) comes in. As a Cycle to Work Scheme provider of choice, GCI’S scheme comes with no spend limits and no ownership fees, which makes it a fair scheme for all, and one that maximises your savings.
POWER UP YOUR RIDE
Perhaps the biggest plus of GCI’S scheme is that you can use it to make savings on an electric bike, including an e-cargo bike. Growing increasingly popular, the e-bike comes with an electric motor, allowing you to cover more distance in less time and make a less-sweaty arrival at the oce. You can even wear your normal attire on an e-bike, while still using it to build exercise into your daily routine.
An e-bike is also great for cycling confidence, as the pedal assist helps you keep up with or overtake other riders, so you’ll feel less anxious about holding trac up at the lights and more confident to choose the safest route, even if it’s hilly! Whether you choose an e-bike, a road bike, a mountain bike, a foldable bike, or something in between, one thing is clear: when more of us cycle, everyone wins.