Cycle to Work Guarantee initiative relaunched as Businesscycle

The Cycle to Work Guarantee initiative, which encourages big businesses to make the Cycle to Work scheme available to their staff, has been relaunched by Transport Minister Norman Baker under a new name, Businesscycle.

The rebranding was unveiled at a breakfast yesterday at the House of Commons hosted by Dr Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge and Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group (APPCG) and Olympic gold medallist and former world champion Chris Boardman.

A new website, www.businesscycle.org.uk, has been launched to provide employers with a single resource to help them put a Cycle to Work scheme package in place, and also provides information on how to support employees through the provision of cycle training or provision of on-site cycle parking.

Commenting on the relaunch, which also underlines the government’s ongoing commitment to the Cycle to Work scheme, Mr Baker said: “I welcome the launch of this website and know it will provide a valuable resource for businesses looking to take a positive step and promote cycling in the workplace.

“Cycling is great for the environment, great for the economy and great for people’s health and I would encourage as many people as possible to log on and take to two wheels.”

One of the reasons behind the relaunch is to build on the momentum provided by this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, and companies that have already signed up include BSkyB, GlaxoSmithKline, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and Microsoft.

The initiative, which is backed by Transport for London (TfL), Business in the Community, British Cycling and The Cycle to Work Alliance, also provides information on cycle safety and security.

TfL’s Director of Planning, Surface Transport, Ben Plowden, said: “The success of the London 2012 Games has spurred on a huge growth in cycling across the country. At TfL we want to nurture that growth and encourage more people to take to two wheels as a means of transport for both leisure and work.

“Businesscycle is a great way of encouraging businesses to promote cycling to their employees in a positive way, giving both employers and employees access to a wealth of information regarding good cycle practice.”

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, added: “For the past three years, through its ways2work programme, BITC has been working with businesses to influence sustainable commuting and business travel. 

“We are now delighted to be a Businesscycle partner and part of what we believe will be a resurgence of cycling as an efficient, healthy and equitable form of transport benefiting people, businesses and communities across the UK.”