Advice and useful resources

Our advice

Cycle parking, showers and changing facilities

As we continue to make improvements to cycling infrastructure across the region, demand is likely to increase for cycle parking in workplaces. Before you begin to encourage colleagues to travel by bike make sure your facilities are fit for purpose.

• Can your parking accommodate any increase in demand? As a general rule, you should provide a bike parking space for the maximum number of people you expect to need one on any given day, plus 50% to allow for growth once other employees start to see the benefits.
• Is it conveniently located, easy to find and clutter free?
• Is it well-lit and secure? Cycle parking that looks inviting and is under surveillance encourages people to use it.
• Is it protected from the weather? People don’t want to return to a bike with a wet saddle.

Where possible, provide showers and changing facilities. Lockers will help avoid unnecessary clutter around the workplace and promote health and safety.

Access to a bike

Travelling by bike is a cheap and convenient way of getting around once you have access to a bike. A great way of giving employees access to a bike is through a cycle to work scheme. These are likely to become more popular, so if possible, make sure yours is open all year round, and offers employees a choice of local and national retailers. Remember, many schemes now allow employees to access bikes and accessories over £1,000, making ebikes a more affordable option.

There are also many organisations across our region offering low-cost pre-loved bikes:

Leeds Bike Mill

The Bikes College CIC, Wortley

Streetbikes, Kirklees

Bradford Capital of Cycling

MCF, Shipley

On Trak Bike Shed, Wibsey

Happy Days, Sowerby Bridge

Shay Cycles, Halifax

Reverse the Cycle, Pontefract

The Bike Hub at Platform 1, Huddersfield

Castleford Cycles

Many people will have a bike that simply needs a little care and attention to get it up and running. Running a bike maintenance session (sometimes known as a ‘Dr Bike’) will help get these bikes back on the road. Please contact us if you’re looking to organise a Dr Bike session for your staff, we can point you in the right direction.

You could also provide a fleet of pool bikes, which people can borrow before committing to buying a bike of their own or can be used for people to make journeys during the working day.

Finding the best routes

People who are new to commuting by bike may not know the best route to take. The shortest, most direct route on a bus or in a car is not always the best route to take by bike. Providing route advice for people will ensure your colleagues enjoy a stress-free commute. Look at mapping routes within five miles of your workplace, this is a gentle 30-minute ride for most people.