TWO schemes to try to encourage more of Wiltshire Council staff to cycle to and from work were launched today - National Cycle To Work Day.

The council has introduced four new pool bikes, bought from Trowbridge Bike Workshop, one of which will be stationed at each of the council’s main hubs.

The aim is that staff will use these bikes to get to meetings where they might otherwise have driven, in an effort to reduce the number of business miles made by car. This will help the council tackle air pollution and cut costs.

Each hub will also now have an emergency bike repair kit – a box full of tools and accessories, such as puncture repair kits, a tyre pump and back-up lights, to help staff who may have arrived at work with a flat tyre or perhaps forgotten their lights.

“These pool bikes and bike repair kits offer a really great option for people considering swapping their car for cycling,” said Philip Whitehead, cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transport.

“Staff can use the bikes to get to local meetings or try one out if they’re thinking of buying a bike.

"There’s even a folding bike so they can take it on the train and cycle to a meeting at the other end. The bike repair kits offer staff peace of mind so they know if they do get a puncture on the way to work, the right kit is there to help them fix it.”

These initiatives have been introduced as part of the Connecting Wiltshire Business Personalised Travel Planning programme, run in partnership with leading transport charity Sustrans and funded by the Government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

The programme has been working with employees at a number of organisations in Wiltshire by running promotions and events, such as Dr Bike sessions, cycle training and the Connecting Wiltshire Travel Challenge, to encourage more people to swap the car for walking, cycling and public transport.