This is a trade facing website. Visit the ACT's consumer site thecyclingexperts.co.uk for information and advice on cycling and find your local independent cycle retailer.

Search News

Results: 1-10 of 901


2 Jul 2025

MPs have called on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls after e-bikes and chargers flagged as serious fire risks were found for sale on their platforms.

25 Jun 2025

The E-Bike Positive campaign has seen major success in the first half of 2025, with its message reaching nearly 8 million people across the UK through high-profile media coverage and growing...

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.

16 Jun 2025

The ACT has welcomed the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking's report "Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes", which calls for urgent Government action to...

11 Jun 2025

A new academic study has found that overzealous pro-cycling campaigners on social media may be inadvertently damaging the case for better cycling infrastructure across the UK.

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street...

10 Jun 2025

Bike thefts across England and Wales have continued their steady decline, according to new data released by cycle insurance specialist Bikmo.

9 Jun 2025

Retailers on Britain's high streets are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the first-ever Love Your High Street Awards, designed to celebrate the small businesses that bring...

Back to news menu

How was Cycle to Work Day for you?

Posted on in Cycles News

Since 1990 the percentage of the population that cycles to work has continued to increase year on year. A report conducted by the Department of Transport shows that the average bicycle miles travelled per cyclist per year has increased from 687 miles in 2002 to an impressive 1,144 miles in 2017!

As a nation, Britain continues to strive for successful cycling - in 2017, cyclists travelled 3.3 billion miles on British roads, 3% further than in the previous year, and 29% further than 20 years ago!

Encouraging more people to join the cycling movement!

So, what is preventing more people from cycling to work? The Department for Transport found that the top two reasons that people don't cycle to work are road safety concerns and not having access to a bicycle.

In May 2019 the ACT launched a 4 part definitive guide to safer cycling series, which included elements such as how to avoid road collisions, how to dress appropriately and how to ride in different conditions.  As more cyclists take to the roads the government has created initiatives to help improve cycling safety, such as Cambridge's Dutch-style roundabout which gives priority to cyclists over motorists. But is enough being done?

What is Cycle to Work Day?

Launched in 2012, Cycle to Work Day celebrates the UK Government's Cycle to Work scheme that started in 2011 hoping to encourage more people to get on their bikes and cycle to work. In 2018, more than 25,000 people took part in the initiative.

The annual event invites employers as well as individuals to sign up and reap the potential benefits of active commuting including increased workplace productivity, lower rates of sick leave and improved wellbeing.

There have been initiatives run up and down the country, for example commuters in London had the opportunity to travel to work for free on Santander bicycles (Boris bikes) on the 8th of August. 

Whilst Cycle to Work has been successfully operating now for more than 20 years, seen improvements to the scheme (the recent inclusion of e-bikes), and has brought in new customers through the doors of the IBD a recent article in CIN questioned the role of third party Cycle to Work providers. 
 
Has Cycle to Work Day had an impact on your shop? Let us know in the comments below.

An already established solution

To encourage more people to purchase their first bike or upgrade their current one there is an increasingly popular already in place at c.700 IBDs across the country.

Ride it away retail finance is an already well-established solution for consumers. It provides an easy solution to spread the cost of higher priced items, with the advantage of bundling in other accessories, with a limit of up to £15,000 - and customers can ride the bike away, straight away! 

Find out more about Ride it away retail finance here.


Back to news menu

Useful links

If you have any other queries please contact us.