The CTC’s Workplace Cycle Challenges successfully launched in Swindon, Colchester, Darlington, Somerset, Woking and Wolverhampton, and now the CTC plans to expand its ‘behavioural change programme’ to the rest of the UK.
Utilising its cycle commuting expertise, the CTC will work with the Department of Health to deliver £500,000 of workplace challenges to five new locations in the South East of England. CTC will be working closely with local Primary Care Trusts and councils to reach the health and environmental goals of getting even more people cycling to work, regardless of what facilities their employers have.
To date almost 4000 people have taken part in a CTC workplace cycle challenge and 84% of non-cyclists intend to cycle more after taking part in the challenge. Half of the participants cycled to work, with many opting for the first time to take a short cycle ride instead of driving. In total 191,498 miles were cycled saving 25955kg of CO2 emissions.
CTC Cycling Development Officer Ian Richardson says: “The data is consistent across all the locations, proving the challenge is a winning formula to get people back on bikes. It shows the challenge is the first step for many people towards changing the way they travel. It offers encouragement and support to make a short journey by bike to work and gives people the opportunity to get back on a bike again for the first time in years.”
Debbie Smith, who took part in the Swindon Workplace Challenge, added: “Having got back on my bike again, I really enjoyed it, so will definitely be making shorter trips by bike instead of taking the car from now on.”
So far over 700 people who have never ridden a bike or who have not cycled in over a year have taken up the challenge and if they all continue to cycle regularly they would generate benefits of around £8million through reduced pollution and health costs.
It’s a programme designed for any size business or organisation and it works by bringing cycling to the office and rewards participants with incentives.
