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Cycle Commuting – Encouraging Sustainable Transport. Mark Knowles 14 August 2006. Cycle commuting – a healthy way to work. Regular physical exercise has proven physical and mental health benefits for employees
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Cycle Commuting – Encouraging Sustainable Transport Mark Knowles 14 August 2006
Cycle commuting – a healthy way to work • Regular physical exercise has proven physical and mental health benefits for employees • Incorporating exercise into daily life, such as by cycle commuting, increases the likelihood of employees keeping active, and has additional benefits for an organisation
Healthier Employees =More Productive Employees Healthier employees benefit an organisation in a number of ways: • Lower absenteeism • Reduced staff turnover • Higher morale • Higher productivity • Lower health care costs
Collateral Benefits • Improved time keeping • Access to a wider base of potential employees • Improved overall access to sites • Enhance an organisation’s image • In the marketplace • In the local community • Contribution to overall social benefits of improved environment, health and social inclusion
Removing the obstacles:Making cycling a practical choice Involving staff (including current and potential cyclists) can help identify ways of facilitating cycle commuting. These may include: • Ensuring secure bicycle storage • Providing showering, changing and clothes-drying facilities • Offering access to bikes through long-term loan or salary sacrifice schemes In addition to consultation, a range of best practice literature is available from organisations such as the CTC and Sustrans.
Implementing the plan 1 According to best practice, there are 7 key stages to achieving sustainable travel in an organisation: • Commitment at a management level and setting initial goals • Seek advice from local government • Allocate staff time to develop and promote plans
Implementing the plan 2 • Gather data on current travel patterns • Identify specific targets and the measures to achieve them • Raise awareness by involving staff, unions and others affected • Launch the plan and make arrangements to monitor and review progress
Further Resources • National TravelWise Association (www.ntwa.org.uk) • Dept. for Environment, Transport and the Regions “Preparing your organisation for transport in the future” (www.detr.gov.uk) • Cyclists Touring Club “Projects: Cycling to Work” (www.ctc.org.uk) • Sustrans / National Cycle Network “Active Travel and Healthy Workplaces” (information sheet FH06) • Cycling England “Cycle to Work Scheme” (www.bikeforall.net)