Six reasons you should cycle to work

Cycle to Work Day in the UK takes place on the first Thursday of August. This year it’s on 1 August. The idea is to encourage as many people as possible to get their cycles out and ride to work on that day – or near enough.

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t cycled for years or if you ride every day, many people can cycle to work, even if it means dusting down the old bike that’s in the shed or even using one of the many cycle hire schemes that are out there.

Not everyone can cycle to work, for any number of reasons. However, many people can and maybe you’re one of them. If you’re unsure about why you should cycle to work or you’ve got colleagues who need a bit of convincing, here are six reasons to ride to work.

1. It can save you money

Cycling is one of the cheapest ways of getting to work. Only walking would save you more money.

After the initial outlay on a new bike and any kit you might need, maintenance is very cheap, especially if you can do some of it yourself. Cycles, unlike today’s cars, are eminently suitable for home mechanics.

If you’ve already got a bike you won’t even have that upfront cost. This itself can be reduced if you purchase your new cycle via the Cycle to Work scheme.

Driving a car, however, has many associated costs. The obvious one is fuel. You might have to pay for parking too. There are also fixed costs to consider: loan repayments, insurance, servicing and maintenance, MOT, vehicle excise duty and so on.

We go into further detail on how much money you can save by cycling rather than driving. Cyclescheme has also done some helpful number crunching.

Cycling to work is often cheaper than public transport too, particularly if you travel a long distance or live or work in an expensive city. The savings add up even more over the long term if you’re investing in season tickets every year.

2. It’s quicker

How many times have you sat in traffic staring out the car or bus window only to watch a phalanx of cyclists whizzing past? That could be you.

Anecdotally people often cite time saved as one of their main reasons for cycling to work. If you live or work in an especially busy area, then you too might find it’s quicker to get the bike out.

Research from traffic data analysts INRIX showed that drivers in London spent 99 hours stuck in traffic in 2023 – that’s more than four days wasted. Just think what you could do with all that extra time.

You can even save time when transporting heavy tools and materials – if you’ve got an e-bike. Stonemason Steve Roche told Cycling UK that commuting by e-cargo bike trimmed his journey time by 15 minutes. He also got fitter and saved money.

3. It’s better for the environment

Cycling is the most carbon friendly means of getting to work – even more so than walking. Research shows that if you swap the car for a bike for just one trip per day for 200 days of the year you could save half a tonne of carbon – equivalent to a one-way flight from London to New York.

Taking your car off the road during rush hour reduces congestion, which will reduce pollution and contribute to cleaner, healthier air.

According to the UK government, up to 36,000 deaths are linked to air pollution every year. By cycling you are helping to reduce harmful emissions, making the UK a nicer, healthier place to live.

4. Improve your health and wellbeing

It’s not just the environment that benefits when you cycle to work – you will too. First, you’ll get fitter – even if you’re on an e-bike. Cycling is excellent cardiovascular exercise. It works most of the lower body. It builds muscle endurance and is good for knee, ankle and hip flexor mobility.

Cycling also improves your mental health. Exercise releases a cocktail of mood-boosting endorphins, with cycling shown to be particularly good at this. Access to green space is natural antidepressant too, so if you can incorporate some parks, canal tow paths or off-road sections in your commute all the better.

Cycling to work can even reduce your stress levels compared to driving. A study published on BMJ Open found that people who cycled to work had a lower risk of being stressed than commuters of other transport modes. The effect is cumulative too – with those who cycled more experiencing less stress than those who cycled less.

5. It makes you a better employee

This one is as much for your employer as for you, but you might find you take fewer sick days and are more productive. Researchers have found a link between cycle commuting and less absenteeism, with those who rode to work taking on average 1.3 fewer sick days over a year than those who drove or took public transport.

Again, the further and more frequently you ride, the fewer sick days you’ll take.

Another study has shown that cycling to work can improve cognitive functioning – and this includes those on e-bikes. Aerobic exercise like cycling can lead to better memory, creativity, reasoning and planning.

If a lack of cycling provision at work is putting you off cycling to work, show your employer this and it might help to convince them to invest in better facilities. They could also get involved with our Cycle Friendly Employer scheme.

6. It’s fun!

That was great bus ride in, said no one ever. Cycling to work is simply a lot more fun than the alternatives. No more sitting stationary in traffic jams, no more falling victim to delayed or cancelled trains or buses.

You can get to work under your own steam, choosing your own route. I only go to the office once a week these days, but when I cycle I arrive feeling happy and energised. It’s a completely different experience to crowding onto a packed Tube train.

If you still have any doubts, ask a cycling colleague why they ride to work. The sheer joy of it will almost certainly be on their list of reasons.

Still not sure? We’ve got loads of cycle commuting advice to help you on your way, while our journey planner will provide you with a suitable route.