Source: Cycling Electric
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) has published its findings and recommendations in the Active Travel and Social Justice Report.
As it stands, the Cycle to Work scheme is only accessible to those in PAYE employment earning above the minimum wage. This inherently excludes some of the people who could benefit most - such as low-income earners, the self-employed, retirees, and the unemployed.
Although cycling remains one of the most cost-effective modes of transport both upfront and in the long term, the scheme fails to support the groups who might rely on it the most. Research by Sustrans highlights that 19% of low-income individuals are deterred from cycling due to the expense of purchasing a bicycle or e-bike.
Moreover, the scheme’s financial benefits scale with income - meaning the more you earn, the more you save - prompting long-standing criticism over its inequitable nature.
Labour MP Fabian Hamilton is leading the push within government for a legislative overhaul.
Hamilton, who co-chairs the APPGCW, stated:"Walking, wheeling, and cycling should be available to everyone, but right now, too many people are excluded. If we are serious about increasing active travel, we must address the systemic barriers that prevent millions from participating. This report provides clear, actionable solutions to make active travel truly inclusive. We will be working hard in Parliament to push for change."
With the launch of the APPGCW’s new report, the group intends to meet with ministers and ensure the issue is included in the Parliamentary agenda.
The updated proposal may see the scheme renamed Cycle for Health, with a wider-reaching remit. The suggested reforms include:
In light of recent government cuts to disability support, there's an added focus on ensuring improved access to pedal-assisted mobility devices, especially as these may help disabled people return to work. Critics argue that reducing support without providing viable transport alternatives for disabled people is counterproductive.
The report emphasises that disabled people are at heightened risk of poverty and face significant obstacles to fair employment and pay.
It states: "As such, the cost of acquiring mobility aids, including adapted cycles, becomes prohibitive, especially where purchasing or repairing adapted cycles is much more expensive than standard ones. Sustrans’ Disabled Citizens’ Inquiry found that 16% of disabled people cannot access adequate mobility aids to walk or wheel (the figure rises to 27% for non-white disabled people)."
Though electric bikes and tricycles tailored to disabled users can be expensive, they offer life-changing mobility solutions. However, the current Cycle to Work scheme does little to assist, given that many people are ineligible and that adapted cycles often exceed the scheme’s cost cap. Furthermore, accessible hire options and secure storage for adapted cycles remain severely limited.
The overarching aim is to ensure that any revised scheme caters to those with disabilities, improving access to e-mobility for those who arguably need it the most.
While reforming the Cycle to Work scheme is a key element of the report, the parliamentary group has tabled a number of additional proposals aimed at improving inclusive transport more broadly:
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