Oxford City Council supports Cycle to Work Day

To encourage staff to take part, the Council is laying on a free breakfast for those who cycle to work on the day.

Cycle to Work Day is a national event that aims to encourage more people to commute to work by bike.

About 760,000 people in the UK cycle to work regularly and organisers hope to increase this to 1m by 2021.

Oxford City Council Chief Executive Peter Sloman said: "Cycle to Work Day is a great opportunity to get some exercise and do our bit for the environment. 

"The Council has provided changing and showering facilities to make it easy for our staff to cycle to work every day."

Council Leader Bob Price said: "Cycling to work is a great way to start the day with a breath of fresh air and exercise to wake up the system.

"I have visited most of the main employers in the city over the past couple of years and have been increasingly impressed by the number of staff who cycle regularly and the support provided by the employers with cycle parking, showers and changing facilities.

"Oxford is one of the leading cities for cycling in the UK, but we still have to overtake Cambridge!"

Councillor John Tanner, Board Member for Climate Change and Cleaner, Greener Oxford, said: “Jumping on the bike in Oxford is quicker, healthier, cheaper and doesn't use fossil fuels. It's miserable when it rains but so is getting stuck in traffic jams."

In 2011, 17% of Oxford residents in employment usually cycled to work – the second highest rate of any local authority area in England and Wales. This was also up from 15%.

Oxford City Council provides a range of facilities and services for employees who cycle to work, including secure parking, lockers, showering facilities, drying rooms and puncture repairs kits. The Council also offers a salary sacrifice scheme, allowing employees to borrow money from the Council to buy a bike for commuting.

Earlier this year the Council opened bike parking at Seacourt and Redbridge park and rides. Commuters can now lock their bikes overnight, allowing them to drive to the park and ride and then cycle the remaining part of their journey into work.