Request ID: FOI-1077-2324 Date published: 02 August 2023
You asked
This is a data request both under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations.
In consideration of the climate crisis, I would like to request the following information about how the organisation is enabling staff to reduce their emissions through sustainable transport, and more specifically, cycling.
1) over the past five years, broken down by year -
a) how many staff members used the Cycle to Work scheme?
b) what percentage of staff was this?
c) what was the average value of the vouchers claimed on the scheme?
d) what was the number of those who took up the scheme, who then failed to complete, leaving the organisation with costs?
2) what tools does the organisation use to encourage cycling for their staff -
a) on a work basis
b) on a leisure/health basis
3) with regards to staff, does the organisation -
a) have any monitoring for what modes of transport staff use -
i) for their journey to work
ii) for journeys during work time
b) and if this data is recorded, I request a copy of such data as detailed as it can be reasonably given, while still protecting personal data rights
4) how many of the following does the organisation have available for staff use
a) pedal cycles
b) electric bikes
c) motorbikes
d) internal combustion cars
e) electric or hybrid cars
f) internal combustion vans
g) electric or hybrid vans
h) heavy trucks
5) does the organisation mileage scheme clearly state the claim rate for cycling
6) how many cycling miles have been claimed by the organisation's staff in the past five years
7) Regarding your current cycle to work scheme -
a) what scheme is currently in place
b) what is the maximum limit on the cost of a bike, if a limit is currently in place
Clarification received 19/07/2023 - Q4: This is general fleet information - so do you have bikes that staff can use between sites? Etc.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1077-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 6th July 2023 asking for information about the TfL cycle to work scheme. On 19th July 2023 you clarified that your Question 4 related to the TfL fleet as a whole.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below:
In consideration of the climate crisis, I would like to request the following information about how the organisation is enabling staff to reduce their emissions through sustainable transport, and more specifically, cycling.
1) over the past five years, broken down by year - a) how many staff members used the Cycle to Work scheme? b) what percentage of staff was this? c) what was the average value of the vouchers claimed on the scheme? d) what was the number of those who took up the scheme, who then failed to complete, leaving the organisation with costs?
Answer: Please see the table below. The answer to Question 1d is zero.
Year
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023 (First 6 months - 1st January to the end of June)
Total number of orders
604
424
921
776
840
385
% of staff
2.24%
1.57%
3.41%
2.87%
3.11%
average package value
£743
£744
£1,098
£1,456
£1,735
£1,816
Comment
Two windows Spring & Autumn
£1,000 Limit - cost of the bike and cycle safety accessories
From 1st April 2019 – with a new contract with a new Cycle to Work provider TfL put a process in place to ensure that Cycle to Work was available all year round. This replaced the previous approach of Spring and Autumn windows, where cycle to work was only available for a limited time.
£1,000 limit - cost of the bike and cycle safety accessories
£1,000 Limit - cost of the bike and cycle safety accessories from 1st January to 2 August 2020.
£4,000 Limit - cost of the bike and cycle safety accessories - introduced from 3rd August 2020
£4,000 Limit - cost of the bike and cycle safety accessories
£4,000 Limit - cost of the bike and cycle safety accessories
New £5,000 Limit - cost of the bike and cycle safety accessories is being introduced from 31 July 2023, as well as an extra salary sacrifice option of 18 months, which will be available to employees as well as the existing 12 months salary sacrifice option
2) what tools does the organisation use to encourage cycling for their staff - a) on a work basis b) on a leisure/health basis
Answer: a) on a work basis only:
Cycle to Work (C2W) - the Cycle to Work Scheme provides employees the opportunity to gain a new bicycle and safety accessories through a salary sacrifice arrangement enabling the employee to save on tax and national insurance. Cycle to Work is available at any time of year, allowing employees to take advantage of this benefit when it suits them.
b) on a work basis and / or b) on a leisure/health basis:
Santander bikes - Santander bikes enable employees to hire a bike or an e-bike at 25% off an annual cycle membership. This may be for cycling to work, between meetings or for leisure.
Cycling skills - Cycling skills training is available for employees who are new to cycling or want to build their confidence via a free online cycle skills course.
Cycle to Work Community - via the TfL intranet, “Engage”, a social media community that enables employees to share knowledge of bikes, safety accessories and cycling experiences.
Highlighting via internal communications channels cycling achievements and events e.g. National Cycle to Work day - Internal TfL communication channels enable employees to find out about other employee’s cycling stories and cycling events showing them what is possible and encouraging them to take part.
Access to discounts for cycle retailers via “mydiscounts” - mydiscounts is TfL’s employee discounts platform which helps employee’s money to go further by making discounted vouchers available to employees, (e.g. get a store voucher for £100, costs an employee £95). This helps employees purchase bikes and equipment for their family and leisure use.
Bike Loan - provides an interest free loan for a bike of up to £500 to employees to access a bike.
Information on cycling via our “wellbeing hub”- provides tips on cycling for employees.
3) with regards to staff, does the organisation - a) have any monitoring for what modes of transport staff use - i) for their journey to work ii) for journeys during work time b) and if this data is recorded, I request a copy of such data as detailed as it can be reasonably given, while still protecting personal data rights
Answer: TfL does not monitor what modes of transport staff use.
4) how many of the following does the organisation have available for staff use a) pedal cycles b) electric bikes c) motorbikes d) internal combustion cars e) electric or hybrid cars f) internal combustion vans g) electric or hybrid vans h) heavy trucks Answer: Please see the table below which provides a breakdown of the TfL fleet:
4)
How many of the following does the organisation have available for staff use
a
pedal cycles
0
b
electric bikes
0
c
motorbikes
0
d
internal combustion cars
33
e
electric or hybrid cars
95
f
internal combustion vans
711
g
electric or hybrid vans
11
h
heavy trucks
35
5) does the organisation mileage scheme clearly state the claim rate for cycling
Answer: No, TfL does not have a claim rate for cycling.
6) how many cycling miles have been claimed by the organisation's staff in the past five years
Answer: None, as TfL does not have a claim rate for cycling.
7) Regarding your current cycle to work scheme - a) what scheme is currently in place
Answer: A Cycle to Work Scheme, with a 12 month salary sacrifice repayment option, is open to employees all year round.
b) what is the maximum limit on the cost of a bike, if a limit is currently in place Answer: £4,000 up until 31/07/2023. A new £5,000 Limit - covering the cost of the bike and cycle safety accessories - was introduced from 31 July 2023. An extra salary sacrifice repayment option of 18 months is also now available to employees as well as the pre-existing 12 months salary sacrifice option.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
