Renfrewshire Council

Today, Thursday 03 August, marks an extra special Cycle to Work Day as Glasgow welcomes the world's elite cyclists for the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships. From 3 - 13 August, Scotland plays host to 13 competitions over 10 days with the single biggest cycling event in history set to inspire the next generation of BMX, mountain, road, track, indoor and freestyle biking enthusiasts across the country.

And while most of us will never be world champions, building cycling into your routine is a great way to improve your health and even save money on sustainable travel.

To help you get started, our Cycle2Work package offers discounts of up to 42% off the cost of bikes and cycling equipment. Earlier this year, Jamie Gardyne, community justice lead officer within Children's Services, used the scheme to replace his old bike. We caught up with him (metaphorically), to find out how he's getting on:

Hi Jamie, thanks for stopping! Can you tell us about your commute?

"Hello. Yes, no problem! I live in Lochwinnoch which is out in the countryside, right on the boundary of Renfrewshire. I usually come into Renfrewshire House in Paisley two or three times a week and prefer not to use the family car on those days."

What got you interested in our Cycle2Work scheme?

"I'm not new to cycling to work but in the past year I've been doing it a lot more often. My previous bike was getting pretty worn and was no longer reliable. It was a challenge using it in winter and I always needed to have a back-up plan ready. But with a young family, buying myself a new bike wasn't a priority. So, when our Cycle2Work scheme re-opened in Spring this year, it was just what I needed."

How did you find the process?

"It was simple and impressively quick. Within just a few days I had my new discounted Boardman adventure bike from Halfords.  The repayments coming straight out of my salary are much more manageable than any deals I had seen elsewhere,

What about the facilities for cycling to work? Are they useful?

"The facilities at Renfrewshire House are good and I know when I store my bike in the car park it is secure and protected from the elements. The showers are helpful too. In fact, they are essential, especially in the bad weather and they're always clean and tidy."

Would you say the Cycle2Work scheme has benefitted you?

"Massively! I now have a quality brand new bike that didn't cost too much. I use it to get to work and other places, plus my kids love cycling too so it's been a great addition to our family outings."

What advice would you give to colleagues about Cycle2Work?

"Look into it and take the time to find the right bike. You might have an old bike sitting in the shed but there could be something else available through Cycle2Work that is better suited to your needs. There are so many different models available these days and our employee benefits scheme makes finding the right one much easier. I really would recommend it!

Traffic and travel - UCI Cycling World Championships

Some roads in Glasgow and surrounding areas will be closed for the next 10 days and public transport providers are amending their timetables and services on certain days during the event.

Please plan ahead and check out all the traffic and travel information available on the Get Ready Glasgow website.  

Published on Thursday 03 August