Cycle to Work scheme participants more than double

The number of employees joining the Cycle to Work scheme has more than doubled as commuters return to work, amid growing concerns about the safety of using public transport as lockdown eases.

New data from the Cycle to Work Alliance shows that in June there was a more than 120% increase in the number of people joining the scheme compared to the previous year. This built on a 52% increase in scheme participation in May 2020, compared to the previous year.

The surge of employees wanting to access the scheme, which allows commuters to obtain bicycles and cycling equipment tax free through salary sacrifice, shows many people are actively preparing to embrace cycling as more of the UK prepares to come out of lockdown.

This comes following the £2bn package to help increase cycling and walking capacity. The Cycle to Work Alliance, made up of the leading cycling providers, is now calling for the government to support this shift towards cycling and help more people get back to work by extending the scheme to include the self-employed.