The Cycle 50% Challenge

This has become one of our most popular and successful products. The Cycle 50% Challenge is a powerful support system, involving a three or four-week challenge during which participants undertake to cycle to work, college or school at least 50% of the available days. This avoids them feeling locked into an undertaking they cannot meet.

We provide:

• Customised leaflet, poster and website
• Recruitment of would-be cyclists, through roadshow or other means
• Assessment of competence
• Loan of a quality commuter bike and all equipment(folders also available)
• Bike fitting and advisory service at hand-over
  
• Helpline support throughout
• Prearranged relationship with a local bike shop in case of  problems
• (Formal cycle training can usually be arranged where needed, at an extra charge).
• Sales of bike and equipment to participants at cost to us. This is usually a 30% discount, or 50% if you use us as CycleScheme (salary sacrifice) suppliers.

At the end of the Challenge period, the programme manager conducts an in-depth review based on post-challenge questionnaires. A report is then submitted to the client detailing the experiences of the participants, total number of journeys made by bike and perhaps most importantly, the number of participants who intend to continue commuting by bike. Prizes can be awarded, if you wish, to the person or people who have cycled in the most, or to the person submitting the best ‘journal’ of their experiences.

When we come to collect bikes and equipment we run a review and evaluation session with client management to assess the effectiveness of the programme and identify any areas for improvement.

All bikes supplied are new or nearly new, and participants have the option of buying their cycle at a considerable discount on what they would pay in the shops. Getting quality bikes into people’s possession is, in its own right, a strong tool in the promotion of cycling.

The Cycle 50% Challenge is very successful, and we typically achieve cycling continuation rates of around 75%.

We have separate services available:

Cycle 50% Challenge for the Workplace

We normally have a maximum of thirty in any one programme, but can run up to three programmes concurrently, or many more in sequence. One customer requires us to put 200 employees through the programme in a limited period of time. To cope with this kind of demand we keep a large fleet of commuter cycles, and trained specialists on our salaried staff.

During the second visit, two weeks later, we bring along up to fifteen bikes and a full set of accessories for those wanting to take part and who don’t have suitable bikes of their own. Our bikes are modern, light, and ideally suited to the commuting task, being equipped with mudguards, lights and pannier racks.

Those with bikes already can have them checked for roadworthiness and suitability. Helmets, quality locks and high visibility/reflective jackets are also provided.

Participants pick up their previously reserved bikes and equipment and are given any special instructions on handling or using the bike and accessories. A Cycling Safely presentation is also run during this second visit and individual route planning is undertaken using local cycling maps wherever available.

An intermediate visit can be arranged after two weeks but this is optional. Pricing for the Cycle 50% Challenge is dependent on distance travelled from one of our two bases, and on the exact number of visits selected. For an evaluation report on our 50% Club in Merton, written by Paulo Camara, Senior Transport Planner, click here (Good Going Issue 10)

Cycle 50% Challenge for Schools

This is similar to the version for the workplace, but involves promotional visits to schools, presentations at assemblies, leaflets going home to parents etc. The bikes chosen are appropriate to the age group of the children. The programme for schools is designed to require a minimum input from the schools; and can also encompass a fun bike try-out roadshow in a local park, on the day the bikes are returned, feedback gathered, and certificates presented. This would be exclusively for participants. Again, at the end of the scheme, there is the option of purchasing the cycles at around the price we bought them for (which is much less than shop prices).

Cycle 50% Challenge for an entire town or city

The whole scheme can also be applied city-wide. You can use your local press to find between twenty and a hundred willing citizens. We will make sure they have a wonderful time on bikes during the Challenge Week, and can even add in an enjoyable communal guided bike ride into the countryside. Remember to invite a journalist to take part in the Challenge, and the participants’ diaries will offer other good people stories for the local media.

The Cycle 50% Challenge can be anything you like. We have the cycles, the equipment, the expertise. We can do it at almost any scale, in any way you want. Our unique ‘Cycle 50% Challenge’ gives you very practical and measurable outcomes.

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