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Active Travel Information for employers

Many people are going to want to cycle to work in order to maintain social distancing. Here’s a quick-start guide on how you can help staff in your workplace to do so, and do your bit as an organisation to reduce congestion and pollution whilst improving the health and productivity of your workforce:

1. Openly support cycling to work

It sounds straightforward but if your staff know that you want to encourage them to cycle to work, they will feel more inclined to cycle to work. Tell them. Also, ask them what they need and do your best to put it in place.

Cycling in to work yourself will have the biggest influence of all. Commute like a boss with our #BossesOnBikes campaign. If you'd like to get involved, email us at workplaces@myjourneysouthampton.com

2. Get the Bike Doctor in

Staff need safe, working bikes. Here’s a list of bike mechanics available in the Southampton area. Or you might be eligible for a My Journey Cycle Savvy Pitstop! Email workplaces@myjourneysouthampton.com to find out.

If you have key workers in your organisations, don’t forget Sustrans’ Cycles for Key Workers guide for where to go for discounts and offers  

3. Make space for cycle storage

If you haven’t got enough cycle parking, search for cycle storage online. There are designs out there that fit most needs and that needn’t cost the earth. Ideally, cycle parking should be secure and enable locking to the frame, sheltered from rain, overlooked or in an area covered by CCTV and close to the entrance to or even in your workplace.

Get some in temporarily if you need to. A simple ‘toastrack’ costs as little as £120. If you need help funding long-term solutions, check if you’re eligible for a My Journey sustainable transport grant.

Consider reallocating space. You can fit 10 bikes in a car parking space!

4. Allow space for storing additional clothing, helmets and bags

The commute doesn’t stop at the door. People who commute by bike will probably have more stuff to bring into work with them. By allocating a secure space for them to do this, you make cycling to your workplace possible.

5. Provide some kit

Cycling doesn’t need a lot of specialised kit but some things make for a smoother ride. Here are our top five things we recommend offering to your staff:

  • Helmets (if desired)
  • Front and rear lights
  • Quality D-locks
  • Pumps
  • Puncture repair kits

My Journey runs discounted cycle kit sales. Contact workplaces@myjourneysouthampton.com to ask if we can run one for you.

6. Get an emergency cycle kit box to loan out

Emergency cycle kit boxes are used by lots of organisations to help staff get back on their wheels if their bike needs a bit of TLC or they’ve forgotten something. They contain everything from track pumps and inner tubes to spare lights and D-locks. Check if you’re eligible for a My Journey-funded kit box, delivered free to your workplace by emailing workplaces@myjourneysouthampton.com

7. Make it easier to buy a bike

Setting up a salary sacrifice scheme for bicycle purchases should be easy. There are even workplaces making money from it by running them themselves with little effort! Wallenius Wilhelmsen Terminals in Southampton did just that and are now independently running their own Cycle to Work scheme with great success. Watch the below video to find out more, plus check out Sustrans’ Guide to Cycle to Work schemes here. You can also share this 'Cycle to Work for Individuals' leaflet with your employees.

This is just a starting point to get you off the ground. There are so many more things you can do to make it easier for people to cycle. For more information, you can contact us at workplaces@myjourneysouthampton.com

You could be well on your way to becoming accredited as a cycle friendly employer!