by Jonathon Harker, 4/6/13
Employers hoping to cut down sick days and have a more effective workforce should be encouraging them onto two wheels, study says Cycling to work could halve the number of sick days the nation takes and provide a £13.7 billion annual boost to British business, according to new statistics from Sustrans. The average worker takes 4.5 sick days each year, while cyclists take just 2.4 days. Absenteeism costs UK employers £258 per day. Sustrans has released the stats to mark the launch of its Support Cycling to Work campaign today. The charity, when surveying cyclists on the National Cycle Network, found that 68 per cent of riders had taken no sick days in the last year. It's time for a minimum standard of facilities and support that
workplaces should provide for those commuting by bike, Sustrans says,
calling on the UK governments to recognise the economic value and health
benefits of cycling to work. “Employers who encourage cycling can increase their profitability and have employees who take fewer sick days, but too many miss out on these benefits because they don’t provide decent facilities and support," Sustrans chief executive Malcolm Shepherd. “In separate research conducted by YouGov, 22 per cent of UK adults who commute to work, but not by bike, said they don’t cycle to work because their workplace doesn’t have the facilities they need. “Cycle parking and showers in an office should be as common as a printer and a coffee machine and by introducing a ‘cycle-to-work standard’ governments would be taking the first steps to making this a reality. “Making it safer, easier and more enjoyable for people to get to work by bike would unlock huge economic gains and health benefits for the UK. It’s time to make sure all our workplaces are fit for cycling.” There's a petition to make Britain’s workplaces fit for cycling at www.sustrans.org.uk/cycletowork Source: bikebiz.com There's a petition to make Britain’s workplaces fit for cycling at www.sustrans.org.uk/cycletowork Sign the petition40%[1] of non-cycling commuters would cycle to work if they could. Despite high fuel costs and expensive, unreliable public transport, just 3%[2] of commuters cycle. We are calling on governments to create a cycle-to-work standard for all workplaces, to give us the choice of a smarter, healthier and cheaper commute. A cycle-to-work standard should include:
A cycle-to-work standardSustrans is calling on governments to recognise the economic value and health benefits of cycling to work by setting a minimum standard of facilities and support that workplaces should provide for those commuting by bike.
- Malcolm Shepherd, Chief Executive, Sustrans A government-endorsed ‘cycle to work standard’ would help businesses to benchmark the level of facilities and support they should provide so more of their staff can cycle to work, helping them unlock the economic benefits of a healthy, active workforce. Similar to the Cycle Friendly Employer Scheme in Scotland, the ‘cycle to work standard’ would give businesses access to advice on how to make their workplace fit for cycling and provide a recognised standard for their success. Cycle Friendly Employer Award has engaged with and provided the focus, support and advocacy to improve the cycling environment of 383 employers across Scotland. 162 of these employers have achieved the Cycle Friendly Employer status covering 74,168 employees in total. The assessment process provides a bench mark and recommendations allowing employers to take specific positive steps to increase the uptake of cycling to and at work. Everyone should be able to cycle to work – sign our petition to make Britain’s workplaces fit for cycling at www.sustrans.org.uk/cycletowork/petition What do workplaces need?Just as workplaces offer free or subsidised car parking or season ticket loans, they should provide the facilities and support to help people cycle to work. These should include: Facilities for cycling
Support for cycling
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