Give tax break to people who cycle to work says British Cycling

People who cycle to work should be given tax breaks by the UK Government, according to British Cycling’s policy adviser Chris Boardman and Britain’s most successful female paralympian Sarah Storey.

They also suggest that companies which invest in cycling facilities should also be provided with tax incentives, in an effort to increase the numbers of people commuting to work by bike.

The proposals, also backed by some of Britain’s largest businesses and national charities, have been put together by Jolyon Maugham QC – one of the country’s top tax experts – who has been commissioned on behalf of the #ChooseCycling business network.

National funding for cycling is currently set to fall to less than £1 per head, just 0.3% of total transport spend – far below British Cycling’s recommended minimum of 5% of total spend that is needed to fund properly segregated cycling lanes.

British Cycling’s policy adviser, Chris Boardman, said: “If more people cycled to work regularly the government would save millions on squeezed NHS budgets and our roads would be much less congested.

“That in itself would more than pay for a £250 tax break and would provide a real incentive for people to live more active lives.”

Sarah Storey added: “Britain’s businesses have woken up to the benefits that cycling can bring to their employees and it’s about time that the government followed suit.

“We want Britain to become a true cycling nation and we’ll only get there if we can get the government to be forward-thinking and to work in partnership with business.”

The proposals that have been recommended by Jolyon Maugham QC on behalf of the #ChooseCycling business network are:
• A specific capital allowance for businesses which invest in facilities for cyclists (showers, bike parking etc) up to a cost of £100,000;
• Tax breaks of up to £250 per year for people who take up cycling to work;
• Extending the cycle to work scheme – enabling people to buy bicycles from untaxed income – to cover people who are self-employed.

Jolyon Maugham QC said: “The specific measures we’ve proposed tackle some of the key disincentives to cycling.

“They are innovative, cost-effective and will help deliver a number of the government’s key objectives.”

National charity Campaign for Better Transport also backs the proposals.

Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Tax incentives and funding for high quality cycle infrastructure are the right way to go to tackle the congestion and pollution now affecting our towns and cities.

“With 60 per cent of car journeys under five miles, this kind of package could give people a real choice for a lot of the journeys they currently make.”