Encouraging staff to cycle more has benefits for both employers and employees. With the amount of time we spend at work and our increasingly sedentary lives, it is important to integrate physical activity in and around the workplace and during our commutes.
This toolkit contains various ideas for events and activities to help you promote cycling and encourage people to take up cycling in your organisation.
Cycle confidence sessions
Active Devon are delivering free cycle training sessions on behalf of Devon County Council, that can help your staff feel safe, confident and inspired to cycle. You can find out more and register your interest at devon.cc/workplace-cycling.
Reasons why people book a session include:
- learning to ride a bike
- increasing their confidence; in general, or when riding on roads etc.
- improving on the cycling skills they already have
- getting back into cycling again
- getting tips on riding safely on roads, and suggestions on routes e.g. to commute to work
- getting tips for riding as a family
Campaigns that promote cycling
There are various events and campaigns run by different organisations to encourage people to give cycling a go. These events and campaigns are great opportunities to raise the profile of cycling at your workplace. They also provide a good setting to organise a cycling themed day or event at the office (see the next paragraphs for ideas on what activities to run).
Cycling UK
Cycling UK is one of the leading cycling charities in the country, and are behind national campaigns including:
The Cycling UK My Ride. Our Right campaign calls for streets and routes that work for women. Because when cycling is made safer for women, it makes it safer for everyone.
Love to Ride
Love to Ride aims to get more people cycling by organising online cycle challenges. With various cycle challenges
being run throughout the year and the ability to set goals, gain badges, share pictures and stories, there is something to get involved in
for everyone.
Other campaigns and initiatives
Cycle to work day is organised by Cycle Scheme, aiming to encourage more people to cycle to work.
World Car Free Day can also provide an opportunity to promote cycling as an alternative to get around or to work.
British Cycling’s Let’s Ride initiative aims to connect people to cycle together. The Let’s Ride website enables people to find local rides, routes, buddies and groups. They also organise events throughout the year.
Cycle to work breakfast
With a cycle to work breakfast, you can offer people an incentive to ride to work that day. Next to offering food, this is also a great opportunity to talk to staff about their journeys, why they cycle to work, and what has helped them to start cycling to work. This enables you to collect stories to help you inspire and encourage others to start cycling as well and learn about routes and tips.
A cycle to work breakfast could also enable you to identify people who would like to be a buddy. These are experienced cyclists who share a similar route to someone who may not be confident enough to start cycling to work on their own. To help you match people up, you could ask people who have cycled to work to log their route on a map so others can see along which routes people already cycle to work.
Dr Bike session
The format can vary per provider, but generally a Dr Bike entails a skilled bike mechanic visiting a workplace for 2-3 hours (or however long is agreed) to perform on-the-spot basis bike checks. Employees simply book a time slot and take their bike into work. Usually the mechanic will let people know what was checked, including recommendations for any further maintenance that is needed. We recommend advertising a Dr Bike event at least one week in advance so that staff can plan to cycle to work or bring their bike in.
Dr Bikes are provided by some local bike shops but also by mechanics with a mobile workshop setup. To find a Dr Bike provider, simply have a search online or ask your local bike shop if they provide these services.
Smoothie bike
A smoothie bike is a fun way to get people peddling and promote cycling. A food blender is powered by the bike chain, making people peddle to make a smoothie of their choice.
A smoothie bike is a fun way to get people involved in cycling related activities. It can help draw a crowd as they spark people’s curiosity. It may even encourage people to get back on a bike; after a fun experience on a smoothie bike, people might be more tempted to give cycling a go again.
There are many smoothie bike companies available county- and nationwide. To find a provider simply have a search online.
Charity and social enterprise Ride On – Cycling for All in Exeter, has a smoothie bike available for hire. Please contact them via info@rideoncycling.org or 07544314749 for more information on hire arrangements, including fees.
Lunch time or evening rides
Social rides are a great way to get people interested in cycling out and about in a supportive and friendly environment. It also provides people an opportunity to meet other colleagues who cycle.
Both Cycling UK and British Cycling provide useful advice and resources on setting up cycling groups and clubs.
You could consider having some of your staff trained in leading group rides. British Cycling provides different levels of ride leader training. Cycling UK provides a variety of courses, ranging from learning basic maintenance tips to leading rides.
Further support
Active Devon are community-focused organisation with a vision of everyone in Devon active for life. Their mission is to unlock the ability of movement to change lives for the better.
Active Devon deliver transformative projects that inspire people to choose walking, cycling and other sustainable modes of travel.
To find out how Active Devon can help your workplace, please email hello@activedevon.org.