Douglas Corporation to offer cycle to work scheme

Local authority to fund cost of cycling equipment

Douglas Corporation is offering staff the chance to sign up to a cycle to work scheme.

The local authority will fund the purchase of cycling equipment costing up to £1,600 for a council employee as an up-front, interest-free loan, to be repaid within three years.

Around 400 government employees have signed up to the scheme, which was first introduced in February 2017. Last year, it was extended to include electric bikes.

The initiative wasn't taken up by the council at first, but officers now believe it can be implemented 'at no real cost' to the local authority.

The council's executive committee voted to introduce the scheme at the start of the current financial year.

However, councillors have specified that any items purchased under the scheme must be sourced from bicycle outlets within the capital.