Wainfleet Borough Council Ride to Work Scheme

What the scheme offers

Wainfleet Borough Council encourages its staff to leave the car at home. Through our Ride to Work scheme, the council hires a bicycle and accessories to you for eighteen months, and the cost is taken from your gross salary in equal monthly amounts. As the deductions are made before tax and National Insurance, the overall saving is usually between twenty-five and forty per cent, depending on your rate of tax.

Eligibility

Any employee aged eighteen or over who has worked for the council for at least three months may join. Your monthly deduction must not take your pay below the national minimum wage, so staff on lower salaries may be limited to a cheaper bicycle. Staff who expect to start a period of unpaid leave, such as a career break, within the next eighteen months should speak to the Payroll team before applying.

Choosing your bicycle

You can choose from any of the six approved shops in the borough, all of which offer a free fitting session. The maximum package value is £2,000, which may include safety equipment such as a helmet, lights, a lock and high-visibility clothing. Electric bicycles may cost up to £3,500, but only staff who live more than eight miles from their usual workplace may choose one.

How to apply

The scheme opens for applications for one month each spring and each autumn. First get a written quote from an approved shop, then fill in the application on the staff website. Your manager does not need to approve the application, but you will be asked to confirm that you will use the bicycle mainly for travelling to work. Payroll will email a collection certificate to you and the shop within a week.

At the end of the hire period

When the eighteen months are over, you will be offered the chance to keep the bicycle for a small final payment, usually around five per cent of its original price. Alternatively, you may return it to the shop where you collected it. If you leave the council during the hire period, any remaining payments will be taken from your last salary.

Facilities at work

Secure covered racks are available at the Town Hall and the main depot, and both buildings have showers and lockers for cyclists. The council also runs free basic maintenance workshops every two months, where you can learn how to repair a puncture and adjust your brakes. Places are limited to ten per session and can be booked on the staff website. Staff who cycle to work at least three days a week may also claim a free annual safety check at any approved shop.