Category: Archive

"The undue bureaucracy hampering this excellent idea appears to have been overcome, so the more people who hear about it the better," says Yannick Read of the CTC, the national cyclists organisation.

In practice, you choose the bike you want. Your employer then buys it and leases it to you over a set period, which is typically from one to three years. At the end of this term, you can buy the bike to keep for a nominal payment, usually between 2.5 and 5 per cent of the original purchase price.

You make big savings because each monthly payment comes out of your salary before tax and National Insurance have been deducted. You can even add the cost of a lock, a helmet, reflective clothes and bike lights to the deal.

So, for example, you choose a bike costing pounds 400, plus gear worth pounds 100. Your employer coughs up the cash, and is entitled to reclaim the VAT on the purchases, reducing the cost to pounds 425.

Lease the bike for a year, say, and you will pay about pounds 35.50 a month. For a basic-rate taxpayer, making the payment out of pre-tax wages reduces the cost each month to pounds 24, or pounds 288 over the year. At the end of the year, you buy the bike and safety gear at 2.5 per cent of its original price – pounds 12.50. In total, you get pounds 500 worth of bike and kit for just pounds 300.

The easiest way for your employer to implement Cycle2Work is through one of three providers that currently run the scheme on behalf of companies. Hal-fords has been involved with the scheme since the launch, but has recently been joined by Booost and Cycle scheme, which both have links to independent bike shops.

Laura Mason of Hal fords says the simplified scheme rules will make Cycle2Work even more attractive. "We have in excess of 300 employers running the scheme this year," she adds. They include companies such as the Royal Mail, Lloyds TSB and Microsoft, as well as several local authorities.

Using a Cycle2Work provider should ensure employers can introduce the scheme without burdening payroll departments.

Hal fords, www.halfordsb2b.com’ Cycle scheme, www.cyclescheme.co.uk’ Booost, www.booost.uk.com

HE COST OF A BIKE FOR WORK

Copyright 2006 Independent Newspapers UK Limited

The Bush administration and Pentagon have restricted video of combat operations in Iraq and coffins returning to the US. Now, YouTube has removed dozens of videos and suspended the accounts of those who posted them. See them here.

Tasmanian Greens Deputy Leader Nick McKim says the Federal government has abrogated its responsibility on climate change but the Tasmanian government is just as bad for not seeking mandatory cuts in emissions.

Dropping MRETs is Howard’s failure: "We think that John Howard’s abandonment of the mandated renewable energy targets is a shame and demonstrates his personal failure and the failure of his government to come to grips with what I regard as the most important issue currently facing policy makers in the world," McKim told state parliament on 27/9/2006.

Policy scuttles wind project:The "complete gutting" of Hydro Tasmania’s plans to proceed with the Musselroe wind farm was a byproduct of the Federal government’s stance, he said.

Tasmania fails on target cuts: McKim, speaking after he had released a leaked draft of the Tasmanian Labor government’s climate change strategy, criticised its failure to broach a local emissions reduction scheme.

South Australia has easier road: He noted that the South Australian Labor government had legislated to reduce greenhouse emissions by 60 per cent by the year 2050. Given that Tasmania generated most of its electricity by renewable means, it would be easier for South Australia to achieve any given emissions reduction target, he conceded.

Massive failure by Labor: "But for the Lennon government to choose not only not to legislate for any mandatory emissions reduction targets but not to even propose a process by which we can discuss whether or not we ought to legislate is a massive failure and puts them right next to John Howard on this issue.

Policy will cost economy: "Mr Howard and his government and Mr Lennon and his government have manifestly failed to come to grips with the issue of climate change and as a result are costing this state and this country not only environmentally but, very importantly, economically as well."

Climate health is paramount: McKim said the climate change issue was more important than health. "Let me put it like this. If you are going to build a new Royal Hobart Hospital, it is no use putting one where it is going to be under water in 20 years."

Reference: Anatomical Examinations Bill 2006 (No. 39). First Reading. Bill presented by Ms Giddings and read the first time.

Erisk Net, 4/10/2006