Would you cycle to work if there were better facilities at your office?

Employers should be doing more to encourage staff to start commuting into the office by bicycle, suggests research from Graham Coffey & Co.Solicitors.

Ahead of Cycle to Work Day (August 5th), the specialist law firm surveyed more than 1,500 people to better understand attitudes towards cycling safety and what can be done to make cycling a more attractive prospect for employees.

Cycling to work initiatives – where employees are able to get commuter bikes and cycling accessories through their employer – are viewed as the most effective tool to encourage cycling to work. Of those asked as part of the survey, over 90% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that the schemes are a good way to encourage more people to commute by bike.

The lack of facilities available was found to be an issue for those looking to cycle to work, while the majority of workplaces (62%) offer bike storage for employees, less than half (47%) provide shower and changing facilities for those who have cycled into the office.

This is a major stumbling block for people looking to bike to work, with three quarters of respondents reporting that they would be more likely to cycle to work if their office provided better facilities.

Safety was not cited as a major factor preventing people from commuting by bike, with 79% of those surveyed reporting being ‘confident’ or ‘very confident’ cyclists. When asked about cycling on the roads, 63% of respondents either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that they felt safe riding their bike amongst traffic.

Discussing the survey findings, Doug Coaty, Head of Cycling Claims at Graham Coffey & Co. Solicitors, said: “With increasing amounts of people taking up cycling during lockdown and looking for other ways to get to work, now would be the perfect time for businesses to seriously consider the facilities and support available to those who might want to swap their normal commute for cycling.

“While cycling into work can be a great way to cut down on commuting costs and incorporate more exercise into your day, it does come with additional challenges. Anyone looking to commute to work by bike should take the time to test their route when roads are quieter to ensure they can easily get from their home to their workplace, without having to worry.”

Graham Coffey & Co. Solicitors is a full service law firm based in Manchester City Centre and has secured thousands of pounds of compensation for victims of road traffic and cycle accidents. In 2021, the firm launched the Graham Coffey Cycle Hub, a new online initiative designed to highlight the benefits of cycling and campaign for more protection for riders when out on the roads.For more information on the new initiative, please visit the Graham Coffey Cycling Resource Hub.