Free Adult commuter Cycle Training

Cycle Stoke, through its Cycle Smart programme are able to offer free one to one cycle training including route planning and accompanied instructor rides to your place of work.

The offer is open to anyone working at one of five employment centres in and around the City of Stoke on Trent and is being made available to all employers and employees working in the Sustainable travel zones and can include cycle and helmet loan.

The cycle commuter  training is provided through Sustrans and Cyclist Training Ltd who will be working with Stoke City council Stoke's business community and city residents over the next 15 months making cycle transport more available. including bike loans, cycle maintenance sessions open training and advice sessions as well as tailored business solutions.

The Sustainable travel zones

Chatterley Valley,
Eturia Valley
Trentham Lakes
Keele Science and Business Parks
North Staffs Hospital

Business's of any size wishing to part in the project can now register an interest to see if they fall into to one of the eligible zones.

Anyone wishing to take part in the initial phase of training should e-mail

Peter@cyclist-training.co.uk

Velo and CTL teams up with Sustrans to win Business contract

Following a multi stage three month Tender process, CTL and Velo (from Stone in Staffordshire) have been selected as the winners of £100,000 pound LSTF contract to improve Cycling for business and workers in the city of Stoke on Trent.

As part of the tender CTL and Velo partnered up with Sustrans (a national cycling and Sustainable travel Charity) to beat off competition from across the country. Sustrans has a proven track record not only in capital engineering project's such as the national cycle network but also in business engagement.

Full details of the tender and how companies / workers can be involved will be released soon, but we are interested in hearing from any business situated in Stoke on Trent that would like to increase cycling to work.

Below is an extract from the Sustrans website giving reasons as to why employers should encourage their staff to cycle.

1. More productive staff:

Employees who cycle to work are fitter, healthier and happier and as a result are less likely to take sick days.

• our survey of people who cycle on the National Cycle Network found they take nearly half as many sick days as the average UK worker
• Absenteeism is costing UK businesses £32 billion each year. [1]

2. More space:

Fewer cars travelling into a workplace means reduced costs for car parking spaces and more room for visitors or freight vehicles

• Transport for London has estimated that removing one car parking space could save up to £2,000 per year in high-density urban areas.[2]

3. Reduced costs:

Having a cycle friendly workplace can reduce the costs associated with business travel. By providing pool bikes, or allowing employees to use their own bikes to travel to meetings, businesses can make substantial savings.

• Employers involved in the Bikes for Business scheme estimated the average savings to the organisation at £25-80 per month per bike.[3]

References

[1] www.ukmediacentre.pwc.com/News-Releases/Absenteeism-costing-UK-business-32-billion-a-year-with-workers-taking-almost-double-thenumber-of-sick-days-as-US-counterparts-says-PwC-1076.aspx

[2] www.pteg.net/NR/rdonlyres/D6966492-3FD0-44A0-9D19-3B687A1FE84C/0/110411_Cycling_in_the_city_regions_Sustrans_PTEG_report_final.pdf

[3] TfL 2008 Pool Bikes for Businesshttp://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/Pool-bikes-for-business.pdf