Getting people to try something new is often a lot simpler than convincing them to make a permanent change. For most people, convenience is the most important thing even when informed of the long-term benefits to their health and wealth.

However, if you can counteract the downsides and make cycling to work easier for your staff, you’ll be far more likely to convince them to leave the car at home (For good!). Here at Bike2Work, we’re passionate about getting people cycling so we’ve put together a short list of ways you can keep your employees wheels turning full-time:

Make it Easier

If you’re able to provide access to proper facilities, convincing your staff to swap their car for two wheels will be much easier. You can do this by installing bike racks, providing secure lockers for staff to keep their things during the day, and making sure there’s space for people to change and wash up. If you don’t have the space available, there are other options! Some employers make deals with local gyms so employees can use their showers/changing facilities before a short walk over to the office.

Offer Incentives

There’s no doubt that cycling to work can save you a lot of money! Highlight those savings by keeping your employees informed of just how much they’ll save on petrol/insurance each month. If they still need an extra push, offer incentives like a free breakfast once a week for staff who cycle into work or sign up for Bike2Work’s tax-free cycle to work scheme where they can save up to 48.25% on the cost of a new bike.

Bring People Together

Already have a group of staff members who are cycling? Why not set up a cycling group at work and encourage your team to get involved. This’ll help improve morale, togetherness and provide extra support for people who are still getting used to cycling. Group activities like out of work cycle sessions, charity events, or even a little bit of healthy competition, can help motivate employees to keep going and prevent them from jumping back into their cars.

Show off the Benefits

Cycling to work doesn’t just save you money, make sure employees are aware of all of the amazing health and environmental benefits through internal coms, posters and other internal sources like a company intranet. You could also try setting up an informal discussion board, which would be the perfect place to tell people about your new workplace cycle group!

And that’s just a few ways you can help keep your employees cycling to work.

If you have any other recommendations or tips, let us know in the comments below!

Visit our FAQ for more information on the Bike 2 Work scheme and how your business can take advantage of the government's tax-free cycle scheme.