Get cycling!

Cycling is one of the greenest ways to travel, itsaves you money and will keep you fit. Find out more with our Greener Living guide to cycling.

Why cycle?

Cycling is better for the environment than driving – it helps keep you and your family healthy and saves you money, too. Here’s how swapping from four wheels to two could change your life for the better.

Keep fit

Cycling to work or school incorporates exercise into your daily routine, so you don’t have to set aside time to go to the gym – or shell out for costly membership fees.

Save money

Once you’ve bought your bike, cycling is free, with no road tax, parking or fuel costs. If you’re currently spending as little as £1.20 a day on fares or petrol, changing to cycling could save over £200 a year. If your commute costs more, the savings are even bigger!

Save time

It’s often much quicker to cycle than to drive or even take public transport. By cycling at an average speed of just 10 miles an hour for short journeys, you will most likely arrive sooner than if you’d taken the car.

Get the family outdoors

Cycling is a great activity to do as a family. It's healthy, fun and encourages children to be independent, teaching them good road sense from an early age.

Shrink your carbon footprint

Cycling is the least polluting way of travelling, after walking – each short journey made on a bike instead of a car saves 2kg of carbon.

Start cycling

Is your bike gathering dust in the shed? Try our tips for getting back in the saddle.

Get a new bike – tax-free!

Many employers now operate a Cycle-to-Work scheme, which allows employees to buy a bike tax-free. Visit www.cyclescheme.co.uk/ to find out more.

Brush up on your cycling skills

Riding on roads can be daunting if you haven’t cycled for a while, but cycle training, such as www.bikeability.org.uk/, will give you the skills you need to cycle safely and confidently. Visit www.ctc.org.uk/ to find your nearest instructor.

Get to know your local cycle routes

You don’t always have to cycle on busy roads to get around. Visit www.sustrans.org.uk/ to get a map of your local cycle routes and start planning your journey into school or work.