Cycle Scheme

Craigbes

Is anyone out their having trouble convincing their employer about the cycle scheme. On the face of it , it appears to be a first class way of obtaining a bike at a good price. When mentioning this at work, some people look upon you as a freeloader. When you mention the fact that a number of people drive company cars and so are costing the company a lot more money than someone on the bike scheme they start looking aimlessly for excuses. And don't even mention the enviromental issues (my MD drives a Volvo XC90). Enough said don't you think :evil:

snooks

Craigbes wrote:

Is anyone out their having trouble convincing their employer about the cycle scheme. On the face of it , it appears to be a first class way of obtaining a bike at a good price. When mentioning this at work, some people look upon you as a freeloader. When you mention the fact that a number of people drive company cars and so are costing the company a lot more money than someone on the bike scheme they start looking aimlessly for excuses. And don't even mention the enviromental issues (my MD drives a Volvo XC90). Enough said don't you think :evil:

You have a go at everyone's status symbol within the company, and you wonder why yer not getting anywhere....hmmmm

Employees with company cars pay a lot more tax (it equates to 22% or 40% of around 20% of the value of the car depending on emissions) because they are a taxable benefit and either a perk or necessity for work. Yes the company has to get the cars, usually through a fleet management company, and they costs them. But they are seen as essential to the running of the company for either transporting it's employees round in a cost effective manner, OR as part of a package to retain employees.

Where as with the cycle to work scheme, you get tax breaks for choosing to buy a bike and saying you're going to use it to do some part of your journey to work on. It doesn't cost the employer money.

You might try explaining, that the government is trying to encourage more cyclist onto the road. their way of doing this is to not extract as much tax from someone wanting to buy a new bike to get to work on. It will reduce congestion on the road, make room on public transport and the benefit for the company is that it saves spaces in the company's car park! As well as all the other plus points, fitter and happier employees, less dependent on public transport/traffic (you get top work on time) as well saving (or not damaging) the environment blah, blah blah

btw I have a company car and my employer does the cycle to work scheme

How big is your company? I take it you've had a poke around the Evan Cycles bit for more arguments for it?