‘Make room for the bike’ businesses urged

The government has launched a campaign urging businesses to implement ‘bike friendly’ workplaces in an attempt to cut pollution and mitigate traffic problems on Britain’s busiest roads.

A new scheme has been implemented by the government which will offer advice and access to offers in order to help companies set up a series of simple, low cost measures that will make cycling to work easier for their employees. By removing the barriers, it is hoped that the new government initiative will make London the new Amsterdam or Copenhagen, with the streets littered with healthy and environmentally-friendly commuters.

Transport for London said in a recently released statement: “Economic growth and prosperity are indelibly linked to an efficient transport system, as well as to people’s health.

“Even relatively small changes in behaviour can have positive impacts on revenues, as well as improving peoples working environment.”

Travelling by bike in vogue

Cycling has certainly become in vogue of late, with more Londoners and other urban dwellers taking to the peddles rather than the car. Schemes in the capital, such as the Barclays Cycle Hire and Barclays Superhighways initiatives, are reducing the barriers to a cycling the commute, but the government has also urged businesses to make the workplace a more bike-friendly environment.

They suggest that access to showers at work is one way of encouraging employees to cycle, and providing some kind of storage in the office for gear will also promote it. Providing training that openly endorses cycling is a good way to get the word out, highlighting schemes such a bike pooling, where companies swap company cars for company bikes to be used for short commutes.