Cycling

Five reasons to take up cycling

1. It's good for your health. Not only is it great for getting you from A to B, but an convenient way of making sure you get your daily dose of exercise.

2. It's cheaper than driving or taking public transport

3. It's helping to preserve the environment we live in. Motor vehicles are one of the main causes of climate change.

3. Bicycles are faster in rush-hour traffic

4. Almost anyone and everyone can afford to cycle

5. Cycling is more sociable and helps to integrate communities

Cycling confidence

Do you want to feel safer and more confident cycling on the road? Do you need to brush up on your cycling or control skills? Somerset County Council's Moving Forward team is again offering adult cycle training courses for just £5.

Courses are suitable for everyone, from beginners to regular cyclists, and are held by qualified instructors and they can even service your bike free of charge beforehand.

The aim is to help you get out and about on your bike more often, helping you deal safely and confidently with the roads and traffic in your area.

Sessions will be held Yeovil during the week commencing 19 July 2010 and run from 5.30pm to 7pm.

• Monday - Control Skills
• Tuesday and Wednesday - On-road cycling
• Thursday - Advanced On-road cycling

Courses are heavily subsidised by NHS Somerset, so you can have up to six hours of training for just £5. With spring approaching it's the ideal time to give it a go!

For more information, go to the Moving Somerset Foward website.

Cycle to work scheme

In 2005, the government launched a Cycle to Work Scheme, which enables employees to buy VAT and tax-free bicycles and equipment for commuting, saving up to 50 per cent of the cost of a new bike.

How it works

The business buys the bicycle on behalf of the employee, who then repays the cost of the bike via a monthly deduction from their pay packet (usually over 18 mnths). As the payment comes off before tax and national insurance contributions are deducted, the employee makes a saving equivalent to the combined value of their tax and NIC contributions for that sum. If their employer is registered for VAT, this can also be reclaimed from the cost of the bicycle. At the end of the loan period, the employee has the option to purchase the bike for the "fair market value" via a final payment.

Find out more about the Cycle to Work Scheme

Cycle routes

The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans .

The cycle routes are designed to minimise contacts of cyclists with motorists. In some cases, the cycle routes disused railway lines, minor roads or canal towpaths.