We get it, policy talk can sound a bit intimidating.
But Section 106 agreements have real potential to support active travel by requiring property developers to consider and contribute to infrastructure that promotes walking, cycling, and other sustainable transport options.
In this blog post we’ll break down all things Section 106 – what it is, who it applies to and the role that bike share, and CycleSaver, can play in supporting Section 106 active travel projects.
These Section 106 planning requirements are designed to offset the social and environmental impact of new developments by providing the funding for infrastructure and services such as schools, green spaces, public transport and importantly, active travel initiatives.
Who does Section 106 apply to?
Section 106 applies to developers and landowners seeking planning permission for large-scale residential and commercial developments.
Local councils will negotiate agreements on the size and scale of these required contributions as part of the planning approval process. The resulting contributions must directly benefit the local area and support sustainable, inclusive growth.
S106 funds can be used to deliver physical infrastructure or to subsidise services, like CycleSaver, that improve mobility, reduce car dependency, and promote environmental wellbeing.
Why active travel matters when it comes to Section 106
As cities across the UK continue to look for ways to reduce emissions, ease congestion, and improve public health, active travel solutions like walking and cycling are being prioritised in local transport strategies. Government policies, including Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs), encourage councils to use planning gain tools like S106 to support these goals.
Councils are increasingly directing Section 106 cycling contributions toward infrastructure such as bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, cycle parking, and secure storage – but shared mobility services are also gaining traction.
The role of bike share in planning obligations
Bike sharing schemes like Lime, Forest, Santander Cycles, and Beryl have become a key part of the active travel landscape in the UK – making flexible, green commuting easier and more accessible than ever, especially for those who prefer not to own a bike due to theft concerns, maintenance costs, or lack of secure storage.
Many councils are now using Section 106 funding to expand bike share access and parking in new housing or commercial developments – making it an effective way to promote sustainable, inclusive travel within local communities.
How CycleSaver can support Section 106 active travel projects
CycleSaver is the only company to have partnered with every major bike share scheme across the UK. Our technology-first approach reduces administrative burden while ensuring the aims and objectives are achieved.
Leveraging our partnerships, along with our technology platform, we can fulfill bike share subscriptions across multiple providers and multiple locations to meet your Section 106 obligations.
Making active travel the default Section 106 solution
If you’re a developer, local authority, or sustainability consultant exploring bike share planning obligations or S106 cycling projects, we’d love to help.
It’s no secret that active travel, like cycling and walking, can have significant physical health benefits – acting as a form of daily movement that’s accessible to almost everyone. But, did you know that the mental health benefits of cycling to work are just as powerful?
In fact, research conducted by the University of Edinburgh indicates that people who cycle to work are less likely to be prescribed drugs to treat anxiety or depression than those who commute using different modes of transport.
That’s reason enough to get us to swap out our tube commute for a Lime bike, but in case you needed a few more, here are four ways that commuting by bike improves your mental health.
Four mental health benefits of cycling
Cycling reduces stress levels
Like any form of active travel, cycling to work can significantly reduce feelings of stress and tension. One of the key reasons for this is its ability to lower our levels of cortisol – the hormone responsible for our stress response.
When cortisol remains elevated for long periods, it can leave us feeling anxious, fatigued, and mentally drained. By cycling to work, you naturally help bring those levels down – setting yourself up for a calmer, more focused start to the day.
It makes you happy
Cycling doesn’t just help reduce stress – it actively boosts your mood and supports your overall mental health too.
Physical activity like cycling stimulates the release of endorphins, often referred to as the body’s “feel-good” hormones. These natural mood enhancers help create feelings of happiness – sometimes known as a “cyclist’s high.”
So whether it’s the fresh air, the sense of freedom, or simply the satisfaction of moving your body, cycling to work can leave you feeling more positive and energised before the day even begins.
Riding to work boosts your brainpower
Struggling with brain fog at work?
Cycling improves focus, memory, and creativity – the perfect solution to brain fog.
Regular physical activity, like cycling, increases blood flow to the brain – delivering more oxygen and nutrients that help it function at its best. This improved circulation encourages the growth of new neural connections, which are linked to better memory, sharper focus, and greater creativity.
Build social connections
Cycling to work doesn’t have to be a solo-commute.
In fact, you’ll probably find the biking community a lot more friendly and full of life than your fellow tube travellers (not that we blame them – eyes ahead everyone!)
So, why not join a group ride to bring a sense of fun and community to your morning commute. Building connections like this can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, two of the biggest challenges to mental wellbeing in modern life.
Ready to unlock the mental health benefits of cycling to work?
Here at CycleSaver, we want to make it easier for people to commute in ways that are better for the planet. That’s why, this Earth Day, we were thrilled to announce our climate action partnership with Ecologi – the UK’s most trusted climate action platform.
To shine a light on the importance of collective climate action, we sat down with Sean Earp, Associate Account Director at Ecologi, to find out more about the work they do for climate action and the impact it makes.
Q: For those who might not be familiar, can you tell us what Ecologi is all about?
Ecologi is the UK’s most trusted climate action platform. Our mission is to inspire and empower businesses to accelerate global climate action through funding high quality, high integrity climate solutions including reforestation, habitat restoration, carbon avoidance and removal projects around the world.
We help businesses take credible, science-led steps toward climate impact, from funding high-integrity carbon removal projects to engaging employees and customers in meaningful sustainability journeys. Our goal is to make climate action both accessible and effective, whether you’re just starting out or scaling your strategy.
Q: What kind of climate action projects does Ecologi support, and how do you choose them?
Ecologi supports a diverse mix of climate solutions, from nature-based projects like reforestation and wetland restoration to innovative carbon removal technologies such as biochar and enhanced rock weathering.
Every project undergoes a rigorous, science-led due diligence process. This includes our proprietary assessment framework, which scores projects across climate, nature, and community impact – adjusted for risk -to ensure each one delivers high integrity and measurable benefits .
When it comes to carbon credits we source credits exclusively from ICROA-endorsed programmes and align closely with guidance from the ICVCM, while also conducting our own in-depth project-level assessments. Our evaluations are informed by data from leading ratings agencies – Sylvera, BeZero, Renoster, and Calyx Global – as well as AlliedOffsets, Earth Blox, and the INFORM Risk Index .
For reforestation and restoration projects, we apply a dedicated risk policy that includes detailed partner screening, a Responsible Reforestation questionnaire, and ongoing monitoring to ensure ecological viability, community benefit, and long-term success .
Our focus is on projects that are additional, durable, and locally appropriate – delivering real impact for climate, biodiversity and people.
Source: Ecologi
Q: What’s one Ecologi-supported project that you personally find really exciting?
Delta Blue Carbon, based in Pakistan’s Indus Delta, is one of the most ambitious and impactful nature-based projects in the world, and one I’m particularly inspired by. At its core, it’s about restoring degraded mangrove forests at scale. Over its lifetime, it’s projected to remove an extraordinary 127 million tonnes of CO₂e, making it the largest blue carbon project globally in terms of climate impact.
But what makes this project exceptional is the way it brings climate, biodiversity and community together. Mangroves are among the most efficient carbon sinks on the planet – but they also play a vital role in protecting coastal ecosystems from sea level rise and extreme weather. In a region that’s highly vulnerable to climate related disasters, that dual benefit is critical.
The Indus eco-region is a Key Biodiversity Area, home to 11 globally threatened species, including the fishing cat and the Indus River dolphin. Restoring these habitats helps preserve one of the world’s most threatened arid zone mangrove systems – while improving the ecological integrity of the wider region.
Equally important is the community dimension. The project is built on Mangrove Stewardship Agreements with local forest-dependent communities. These agreements provide sustainable livelihoods and enhance local climate resilience, all while fostering deep-rooted engagement in conservation. It’s a rare example of climate finance delivering long-term, systemic benefits – environmentally, socially and economically.
Q: We often hear that individual actions ‘don’t matter.’ What’s your take on that?
That narrative is misleading. Systemic change is essential – but systems are made of people. Individual and organisational actions help build the demand, momentum and cultural shift that makes wider change possible. When a business decarbonises its supply chain, when a team chooses lower-carbon ways of working, when millions of people make more sustainable choices – those actions stack up.
Q: What are some simple but underrated things people and businesses can do to reduce their carbon footprint?
While systemic change is essential, there are many practical, high-impact steps individuals and businesses can take right now to reduce emissions – and many are simpler than you might think.
For individuals:
Walk, cycle or use public transport for short journeys.
Cut food waste – it’s one of the most overlooked sources of emissions.
Switch to renewable energy where available.
Prioritise reuse over recycling; reducing consumption is even better than managing waste.
For businesses:
Use footprinting tools to identify your emissions hotspots and tackle them systematically.
Embed climate considerations into procurement and supplier decisions.
Fund high-quality, high integrity climate solutions – and be clear and transparent about why you’re doing it.
Start small, but build towards a science-aligned net-zero strategy that evolves over time.
Perfection isn’t the goal, progress is. What matters is making a start, and then committing to keep going.
Source: Ecologi
Q: What does Earth Day mean to you and to Ecologi as an organisation?
It’s a moment of collective reflection and recommitment. At Ecologi, Earth Day isn’t about one-off gestures – it’s about celebrating progress while recognising the scale of what’s still needed to be done. It’s also a platform to elevate the voices of our partners and the real stories behind the incredible climate solutions we support. At its core, it’s about turning awareness into impact – embedding climate action across teams, systems, and decision-making.
Q: How does a climate action partnership, like this one with CycleSaver, contribute to the wider climate movement?
These partnerships are crucial. They embed sustainability into the systems people interact with every day – how we move, shop, work and live. By linking low-carbon transport with verified climate impact, CycleSaver makes it easy for people to be part of the solution. And that ease – making climate action feel possible and relevant – is a powerful force for change.
Q: What role do you think sustainable transport plays when it comes to sustainability goals?
It’s fundamental. Transport is one of the largest contributors to global emissions. Shifting to walking, cycling and shared mobility isn’t just a carbon decision – it’s a systems decision. It reduces pollution, congestion, and negative impacts on health impacts. It reclaims space for communities. When done well, it’s a climate win that improves everyday life, not just the carbon ledger.
From restoring forests to rethinking our daily travel habits, it’s clear that meaningful climate action needs to happens at every level – and often starts with a single decision.
Our climate action partnership with Ecologi is just one part of CycleSaver’s commitment to making sustainability a seamless part of daily life.
London, April 22nd 2025 –CycleSaver, the UK’s first and only salary sacrifice scheme exclusively for bike-share subscriptions (like Lime, Forest, Santander), is proud to announce a new partnership with Ecologi B Corp – the UK’s most trusted climate action platform.
In celebration of the collaboration, CycleSaver will fund the planting of one tree for every active and new subscription between 22 April and 22 May 2025.
The initiative is part of CycleSaver’s continued mission to promote greener, more sustainable commuting choices for employees across the UK. With a shared commitment to tackling climate change and making low-impact living more accessible, CycleSaver and Ecologi are perfectly aligned in their goals to drive collective action for the planet.
“We’re incredibly excited to team up with Ecologi this Earth Day,” said Dino Bertolis, Founder and CEO of CycleSaver. “Our mission has always been to make cycling more accessible through salary sacrifice, and this partnership allows our users to contribute to the planet not just by choosing cycling over other forms of transport, but by planting trees with every subscription. It’s a win-win for commuters and the environment.”
Ecologi, a certified B-Corp, inspires and empowers businesses to accelerate global climate action through reducing their emissions and restoring our planet by funding high quality, high integrity climate solutions including reforestation, habitat restoration, carbon avoidance and removal projects around the world.
The partnership with CycleSaver offers a new avenue for environmental impact by linking everyday commuting choices with long-term reforestation efforts.
Dimitri Theocharis, Ecologi’s CEO, commented: “We’re proud to partner with CycleSaver to celebrate Earth Day. By linking sustainable commuting choices with impactful reforestation projects, CycleSaver is making it easier for employees across the UK to support vital climate solutions through collective action”
This initiative kicks off on 22 April 2025, aligning with Earth Day’s global call to invest in our planet. All CycleSaver subscriptions – both new sign-ups and current active users – will automatically trigger the planting of one tree, helping to create lasting environmental impact.
And this is just the beginning. CycleSaver and Ecologi have plans to deepen the partnership throughout the year, with further sustainability initiatives in development to support long-term climate goals and empower more companies and employees to take meaningful action.
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About CycleSaver
CycleSaver is an innovative cycle-to-work scheme designed exclusively for employees who use bike-sharing and hire services rather than owning a bike themselves.
With over 4.5 million users of bike sharing schemes across more than 33 cities in the UK, CycleSaver was founded by Dino Bertolis in 2023 to give these riders access to the HMRC’s cycle-to-work tax savings – enabling them to benefit from savings of up to 47% on bike-sharing costs.
Employers sign up to CycleSaver at no cost to offer their employees savings on flexible monthly ride bundles to Lime, Forest, Beryl, Santander Cycles and Dott.
The cost of the subscription is deducted from an employee’s gross salary (before tax) saving them money through reduced Income and National Insurance tax. Employers also benefit from reduced National Insurance contributions through the salary sacrifice model.
By revolutionising the traditional cycle to work model in this way, CycleSaver is driving a shift towards greener cities and a more sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cyclesaver.co.uk
About Ecologi
Ecologi is the UK’s most trusted climate action platform. Our mission is to inspire and empower businesses to accelerate global climate action through funding high quality, high integrity climate solutions including reforestation, habitat restoration, carbon avoidance and removal projects around the world.
We work with over 24,000 businesses; Co-op, O2, BAFTA Albert, ITV, Ubisoft, Oracle, Capgemini, Mulberry including 300+ B Corps. Our community has collectively funded the planting of over 89m trees, avoided 3.5m tonnes of verified CO2e, over 39,000m2 of habitat restored and permanently removed 14,000 tonnes of CO2. We’re science-led and impact driven, aligned to the SBTi and Oxford Principles and guided by our impact team and expert independent climate committee. We support leading industry standards and work with leading third-party quality assessment from our partners Sylvera, BeZero Carbon, Calyx Global and Renoster.
We’re a proudly certified B Corp, in the Top 5% for Environment and Governance, as well as the most trusted climate action brand in the UK with an average 4.8 rating on Trustpilot.Find out more at https://ecologi.com
Did you know that fewer than one third of cycle trips in London are taken by women?
This International Women’s Day, we’re shining a spotlight on the women of the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) who work tirelessly to make cycling a transport option that serves men and women equally across the city.
The LCC Women’s Network, led by a dedicated steering group of volunteers, has championed initiatives like the Women’s Freedom Rides, the “What Stops Women Cycling in London?” report and other vital projects to highlight the challenges women face and drive action to make cycling more inclusive.
Photo by the London Cycling Campaign
We spoke with Mariam Draaijer – founding member of the LCC Women’s Network and Chief Executive of JoyRiders – about the barriers that hold women back and what can be done to Accelerate Action for more women to take up cycling in London.
Can you provide a brief overview of the LCC Women’s Network, and how it got started?
The women’s network started because there weren’t a lot of women involved in the LCC to begin with, and we found a lot of the focus areas within the LCC were dedicated to infrastructure, which is great and very much needed, but it had less of a focus on the needs of women specifically.
So, we decided to launch the women’s network in 2023 to highlight the issues of why women don’t cycle – specifically in the UK where there is quite a big gender gap within cycling which you don’t find in other countries.
What are the biggest barriers faced by women that could be stopping them from cycling in London?
Generally, the biggest barrier to cycling for women in London is safety fears. Safety issues are really the number one concern. When you cycle on the road [women are] worried about close bypasses, being hit by a car, and being harassed. And then it’s after dark and a lot of the infrastructure which is really quite nice in the daytime, doesn’t feel as safe after dark. For example, going through a dark park – it’s a very different feeling [at night] than when you’re out cycling during the daytime with loads of people around. I think these are really the two biggest concerns, but ultimately women just don’t feel safe.
What, if anything, is being done to minimise these barriers for women?
Progress is slow, but is also dependent on the borough in which you live. In some boroughs there is a lot done [to minimise these barriers to cycling], but it’s all to do with the willingness of politicians, council officers, and funding – so there’s a lot of different factors that play into it. There has been progress, there definitely has, but it’s just slow and planning takes time.
Do you feel that more could be done by both city representatives and local communities to help women feel confident to cycle in London?
Attitude change within drivers – being less aggressive towards cyclists – is something that definitely needs more campaigning, and a lot more could be done to prevent it. I think our campaign and recent women’s ride is a good start, and highlighted a lot of the issues that are there. For example, one of the paths we rode through actually had lights installed – they just weren’t switched on. So, sometimes everything is in place, but just isn’t being utilised.
Looking at existing infrastructure that could be improved with small adjustments to make it feel a lot safer [could also help] – having more lights, more visible police officers at night, you know, just making sure that everything is in place and functioning. Really working with and listening to local communities is also important. When new things are built by councils, TFL, or whoever puts this infrastructure in place – they should come and talk to women to hear our perspective.
Can you share any inspiring stories of women who have overcome barriers to start cycling?
The women involved in the Women’s Network by the LCC are already generally quite confident riders, but they all have stories to tell that are really quite scary. I think we’ve all had an incident at some point which is really intimidating or scary.
I’m also with JoyRiders, and we work with women who have just started on their cycling journey, so are really at grassroots level. Here, we had a woman who joined a beginners ride with us without ever having ridden a bike and although she struggled, she made it through and learned to cycle on that ride. She has since gone on to become a volunteer leader at JoyRiders, cycled London to Brighton, bought a second bike and was inspired to take up running too – completing the London marathon last year. I think she’s really inspiring and a great role model, showing that even when you’re older you can achieve so much and it’s never too late to take up cycling, or any other sport for that matter.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is “Accelerate Action”.
What message would you like to share with women about the importance of taking action to reclaim a safe public space?
We need more women to take up cycling because the more visible we are the more we will be taken seriously and the more space we will take up. If you aren’t sure – join in on a social bike ride, there are plenty around. Join in and discover London as a cyclist.
Even with the safety concerns we have and the campaigning we do, London is still a really nice cycling city and is predominantly a safe city to cycle in. I think that’s important to highlight because although we are campaigning for certain adjustments and improvements [to make cycling safer for women in London], there are many cycling routes that are very safe and secure.
Photo by the London Cycling Campaign
While it’s clear that progress is being made to make cycling safer and more accessible for women in London, there are further steps that could be taken to accelerate action and bolster women’s safety, ensuring a cycling network that’s accessible all year round – day or night.
For more information on how you can get involved and support change in your area, visit the LCC Women’s Network website to find your local borough’s group.
Further resources:
JoyRiders: Empowers women to start cycling through free, volunteer-led social bike rides in London, Manchester, and Oxford. They offer learn to ride sessions, cycle sessions to get confident on the road and social bike rides.
CycleSaver: The UK’s first and only exclusive provider of cycle to work benefits for bike share – offering flexible monthly and annual subscriptions to the UK’s top bike share providers including Lime, Forest, Santander Cycles (Boris bikes), Dott and Beryl. The cost of a CycleSaver subscription is deducted from an employee’s gross salary (before tax) each month, resulting in tax savings of 28-47% – making cycling more affordable, accessible and convenient than ever.
Reducing your pay to save money… sounds like nonsense, doesn’t it?
But giving up a portion of your salary to pay for certain expenses could lead to significant savings for you and your employer, through a process known as “salary sacrifice”.
What is salary sacrifice?
Salary sacrifice, sometimes known as “salary exchange”, is a UK government-backed scheme designed to help employees save money on tax. It works by allowing you to exchange part of your salary for specific benefits, with the cost deducted directly from your salary before tax and National Insurance (NI) contributions are calculated.
This reduces your taxable salary, lowering your income tax and NI contributions, while also saving your employer money on their NI bill.
How does salary sacrifice work?
Joining a salary sacrifice scheme couldn’t be easier, with just a few simple steps to give you access to big savings:
Agreement with your employer
You and your employer agree on a monthly salary deduction in exchange for your chosen benefit.
Payroll adjustment
Each month, your employer will adjust your salary by deducting the agreed amount before tax and NI are calculated.
Tax & NI savings
Since your taxable salary is now lower, you pay less income tax and NI. Your employer also pays less NI – making salary sacrifice schemes beneficial to employers and employees.
Enjoy your benefit
It’s time to enjoy your chosen benefit – with significant savings determined by your tax band.
Three salary sacrifice benefits you might not know about
Early childcare fees are skyrocketing in the UK, with the average cost of full-time nursery care for children under two costing families approximately £263 per week. That’s over £1000 a month – with some regions, like London, racking up even higher monthly costs.
A nursery scheme is a tax-effective way to significantly ease the financial burden of these childcare costs by giving you the opportunity to save money on nursery fees through the tax benefits of salary sacrifice.
Not only is this saving families thousands of pounds each year, but it also benefits employers through savings on their NI contributions at the same time.
Gogeta Nursery is a workplace nursery scheme that lets you save 19-40% on your nursery bill by paying for it out of your gross salary, before you get taxed. There is no cost for companies to offer Gogeta Nursery to their employees however, as part of HMRC compliance, employers must make a financial contribution of £100 per month to the nurseries of participating parents. This is covered by the NI savings your company will make, so Gogeta Nursery remains cost neutral to employers.
We’re all trying to do our best to advance Net Zero goals for the planet. That includes rethinking the vehicles we use.
Electric vehicle (EV) schemes make switching to an electric car more affordable by allowing you to lease an EV for less through the tax benefits of salary sacrifice. Similarly to other schemes, this provides savings on income tax and NI – reducing costs significantly compared to personal leasing.
Not only do EV schemes help employees drive electric for less, but they often include insurance, servicing, and breakdown cover, making the switch to sustainable transport hassle-free and cost-effective.
The Electric Car Scheme helps UK employees save 30-60% on electric car leasing through salary sacrifice – just like the Cycle to Work scheme, but for EVs! By spreading the cost through pre-tax salary deductions, employees can enjoy lower monthly payments while employers benefit from a greener, more sustainable workforce.
The cycle to work scheme is the oldest and most well known option when it comes to salary sacrifice benefits – with traditional cycle to work schemes first stepping onto the scene back in 1999.
But, did you know the cycle to work salary sacrifice benefit can now be used to lower the cost of shared city bikes too?
That’s right, now you can pay less for your Lime bike bundles through the tax benefits of salary sacrifice.
CycleSaver is the UK’s first and only exclusive provider of cycle to work benefits for bike share – offering you flexible monthly and annual subscriptions to the UK’s top bike share providers including Lime, Forest, Santander Cycles (Boris bikes), Dott and Beryl.
The cost of your chosen CycleSaver subscription is deducted from your gross salary (before tax) each month, which results in tax savings of 28-47%, depending on your salary band – making your commute more affordable and convenient than ever.
So, is salary sacrifice worth it?
Salary sacrifice schemes are no new feat, but in today’s economic climate, it’s never been more important for your company to offer you workplace benefits that’ll make your hard-earned pounds go further, and cost them nothing in the process.
Plus, since a well-thought-out benefits offering often leads to happier employees and lower staff turnover, a strong catalogue of salary sacrifice benefits should be a no-brainer for employers.
London, January 30th 2025 – Announced today, the European micro-mobility operator Dott has teamed up with CycleSaver.
In partnership with this new cycle to work scheme from CycleSaver, Dott is introducing a flexible monthly subscription to their e-bikes. As a result of the tax benefits of salary sacrifice, this will enable employees to save money on Dott’s standard e-bike prices each month, reducing employee commuting costs by up to 47%.
“By collaborating with CycleSaver, we aim to make sustainable commuting more accessible and affordable for employees across the UK. This partnership aligns with our mission to change mobility for good, together, and help cities to reduce congestion and pollution in urban areas,” said Peadar Golden, Regional Director UKI & Nordics at Dott.
CycleSaver is the UK’s first cycle-to-work scheme to focus exclusively on bike share, offering employees savings on subscriptions to the UK’s top bike share providers – including Lime, Forest, Santander Cycles, Beryl and now Dott.
The partnership comes as Dott solidifies its recent merger with Tier – expanding their fleet of vehicles to become Europe’s largest micro-mobility operator, with over 250,000 e-bikes and scooters in more than 400 cities across the UK and Europe.
Dino Bertolis, Founder and CEO at CycleSaver, said: “Partnering with Dott is an exciting step for CycleSaver, as it extends our reach into new cities and enables even more employees to enjoy significant savings on their daily commutes.”
Through Dott’s monthly subscription via CycleSaver, riders can enjoy two free 30 minute e-bike trips each day, as well as unlimited free bike unlocks (which usually cost £1). Dott’s e-bikes are currently available in Bath, Bristol, Milton Keynes and Colchester.
Sustainability and accessibility are at the core of this partnership between CycleSaver and Dott – who are working to change mobility for good, together.
The cycling industry is undergoing a significant shift in the UK, with bike ownership facing a massive decline while bike sharing schemes (like Lime, Forest, Santander Cycles, etc) soar in popularity.
This decline follows an industry boom brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are a number of other factors turning people away from bike ownership, including growing theft concerns, the increasing costs of insurance and maintenance, and the hassle of needing additional storage space – both at home and in the workplace.
At the same time, bike sharing schemes are exploding in popularity, with availability now in more than 48 towns and cities across the UK.
So, what’s the big deal when it comes to bike share anyway?
Bike sharing schemes provide a cost effective solution to the pain points of bike ownership – so you no longer need to worry about costly maintenance and insurance policies, bike theft, or the need for additional storage space.
Instead, these schemes provide the ultimate flexibility and convenience – allowing you to opt for one-way bike journeys as well as pick up and parking in different locations.
Plus, with most bike share providers now offering e-bikes, you won’t need to worry about your level of fitness or whether you’ll arrive at your Monday morning meeting covered in sweat!
Through CycleSaver, you’ll save up to 47% on subscriptions offered by these popular bike share providers, through the tax benefits of salary sacrifice. That means a 25 minute Lime e-bike ride that would usually cost £2.65 could cost you as little as £1.40.
And, with the cost of living crisis showing no signs of slowing down, there’s never been a better time to make your hard-earned pounds go further each month.
But, what’s the catch?
We know – it sounds too good to be true.
But thanks to the UK government’s cycle to work scheme, you’re able to give up part of your salary in exchange for a cycling benefit – which in this case would be a CycleSaver subscription.
The cost of your chosen subscription is deducted from your gross salary (before tax) each month, which results in tax savings of up to 47%, depending on your salary band.
Why choose CycleSaver?
As the only salary sacrifice scheme to offer subscriptions for every major bike share provider in the UK, CycleSaver ensures that bike share is simple, affordable and accessible to as many individuals as possible.
This has made it easier than ever for you to prioritise sustainable commuting during a time where the climate crisis is top of mind for employees and employers alike.
How do I sign up?
Getting access to these bike share savings couldn’t be easier. Simply choose your preferred CycleSaver subscription, submit your application and we’ll handle the rest!
If you’d like to find out more about the subscriptions offered through CycleSaver, you can visit our website here.
[London, 01 July 2024] Lime – the world’s largest provider of shared electric bikes and scooters – has joined the UK’s government backed cycle-to-work scheme through a partnership with specialist provider CycleSaver.
Kaan Tas, General Manager for Lime in London, said “We are delighted that Lime is now more affordable than ever for commuters via the cycle-to-work scheme and our partnership with CycleSaver. It’s important that businesses offer discounts on rental e-bikes as well as personal bikes as they look to encourage even more sustainable and active adoption amongst their employees.” The savings available to employees are substantial, and we hope companies and employees that are signed up to the UK’s cycle to work scheme take advantage of this.”
“The partnership comes as cycling in London is booming – last year, the number of daily cycle journeys hit an estimated 1.26 million per day. Lime data shows demand for rental e-bikes is also growing, with an inner London borough like Camden now recording approximately 200,000 Lime rides per month,” Tas added.
Benefits of cycle-to-work
CycleSaver’s government backed cycle-to-work scheme will allow employees to benefit from 28% and 47% savings on monthly minute bundles with Lime through the tax benefits of salary sacrifice. With these savings, a 30-minute Lime e-bike ride now costs as low as £1.30.
There are currently two bundles available: a 500-minute and a 1000-minute per month, both offered as flexible monthly subscriptions via CycleSaver. The benefit will be available in London, Nottingham, Derby and Milton Keynes across Lime’s e-bike services.
“CycleSaver’s cycle-to-work scheme caters specifically for the increasing number of individuals opting to use bike sharing schemes like Lime rather than owning a bike. The success of Lime is a testament to its fantastic product and changing habits of commuters. We believe the savings offered through our cycle-to-work scheme will attract even more regular users” said Dino Bertolis, CEO of CycleSaver.
How it works
CycleSaver’s cycle-to-work scheme operates exactly like a regular cycle-to-work scheme except the employees are given the ability to purchase a bike subscription, rather than a bicycle of their own. The costs of the subscription are deducted from their pre-tax (gross) salary, a process known as ‘salary sacrifice’.
Companies that are not already signed-up to the cycle to work scheme or CycleSaver will need to do so in order for their employees to claim the benefit. Companies can sign-up at no cost, and will benefit from a reduction in employer National Insurance Tax for every cycle-to-work product taken out by its employees.
