Last updated 19:44, Thursday, 17 July 2008

MORE than 19,000 council workers in Cumbria could be reaching for the bicycle pump instead of the fuel pump in a bid to get them to be greener and healthier.

Cumbria County Council believes that cycling to work will cut the number of cars on the roads and make employees fitter and more alert.

Under cycle-to-work schemes, companies can purchase tax-free bicycles and accessories for employees.

Cumbria county council has teamed up with Cyclescheme, which aims to help companies whose staff want to cycle to work.

It involves a voucher system which employees can use for a bike up to the value of £1,000, which they can repay in instalments. There’s an option to buy the bike outright for about five per cent of the original cost.

The employer is allowed to reclaim VAT on the purchase price of the bike.

Mark Brierley, county council cycling development officer, said: “Cycling to work is good for your health, good for the environment and good for reducing road congestion.

“As the county council is one of the major employers in Cumbria, this scheme could make a real difference over time in terms of how many people take the healthier option and bike to work.

“Potentially more than 19,000 county council employees will be eligible for the scheme, but we anticipate around 250 will take up the offer in its first year.”

A roadshow about the cycle scheme was held on Tuesday at Cockermouth for station.

Shops taking part in the scheme include Keswick Mountain Bikes Ltd, 4 Play Cycles in Cockermouth, and Bike Bank in Workington.