CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

CEC employees encouraged to cycle

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  1. riffian
    Member

    Got this piece through the staff magazine:

    Did you know that if you travel on Council business by bike, you can claim a cycling allowance for your journeys?

    Walking and cycling is being promoted as part of the Council's Sustainable Travel Plan, to reduce the environmental impact of travel and to encourage a healthier lifestyle.

    Cycling is a fast, efficient way of travelling on shorter journeys, particularly if you have a meeting, visit or inspection around the city centre. You can receive a payment of 25p per mile and there is an easy online claim system.

    Euan Renton, a policy officer who developed the Sustainable Travel Plan, says “Cycling, whether to and from work or on Council business helps keep you fit, can relieve stress and boost your creative energies. It’s often the quickest way to travel too because parking is easier and there are numerous short cuts and cycle paths that cars and buses can’t use.

    People might be concerned about getting too hot cycling in their work clothes but if you keep the speed down it's fine.”

    Allotment officer Ian Woolard has been cycling at work for the past 15 years. Not only does he cycle to and from his home in Kingsknowe to his office in Inverleith, but he is also able to get around by bike as he visits the city’s many allotment sites.

    “It’s a brilliant policy and the 25p a mile gives you that bit of incentive,” says Ian. “Cycling is much easier than using the car as most sites are close together, and have a good path network linking them.

    “Obviously cycling is not suitable when it’s raining but the number of times it disrupts my plans is surprisingly few.

    “My best advice for anyone thinking of cycling to work or on Council business, is get a reasonable priced bike with the best puncture proof tyres you can buy. I have learned over the years that these are a really worthwhile investment.”

    If you think cycling on Council business could help you in your work, there are more details on the intranet.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

    "

    “Obviously cycling is not suitable when it’s raining but the number of times it disrupts my plans is surprisingly few."

    "

    Presume that means raining a lot(?)

    Posted 12 years ago #
  3. "Obviously cycling is not suitable when it’s raining but the number of times it disrupts my plans is surprisingly few"

    Genius. Encourage cycling, but not when it's raining. In Scotland.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  4. chdot
    Admin

    "
    west_team:

    Environmental Wardens are patrolling across west to target dog fouling  - if you are concerned report issues to westteam@edinburgh.gov.uk

    Original Tweet: http://twitter.com/west_team/status/124820192831340545
    "

    Bet they are not on bikes which WOULD make sense.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  5. custard
    Member

    wish I could get a mileage allowance!

    Posted 12 years ago #
  6. custard
    Member

    wish I could get a mileage allowance!

    oopsie,double post :o

    Posted 12 years ago #
  7. Cyclingmollie
    Member

    I used to work for them and I couldn't claim it because my manager never sanctioned it. In fact he used to give me a hard time just for being a cyclist, as in "oh you're one of them" or "I just saw a cyclist going down Broughton Street far too fast. Do you lot never worry about other traffic?". I did tackle him on it but just got a shrug of the shoulders. I only had to meet up with him once a month and so it wasn't hard to hide the fact that I'd cycled in. But it was odd behaviour for a manager in an organisation supposed to be encouraging people to cycle. Maybe he missed the memos.

    Posted 12 years ago #
  8. druidh
    Member

    custard

    wish I could get a mileage allowance!

    IIRC, if you don't you should still be able to claim tax relief on the 25p per mile. For a basic rate tax payer, this would be 5p per mile. Not much, but it depends how many miles you do? (remember, this doesn't include your normal commuting distance).

    Posted 12 years ago #
  9. alibali
    Member

    ..I only had to meet up with him once a month..

    Wow, that's impressive trust from a cycle-skeptic boss!

    Posted 12 years ago #
  10. chdot
    Admin

  11. gembo
    Member

    Very odd figures - 2-3 million miles, costing over £1million

    But

    It is 25p a mile so the expenses would be £500,000- £750,000?

    I have done my bit by not claiming in two years

    Posted 6 years ago #
  12. Snowy
    Member

    Gembo, I wondered too...looked more like 50p a mile!

    I don't claim from my employer for short hops, although I believe others of this parish have managed to do so.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  13. unhurt
    Member

    @gembo is it really only 25p a mile for car mileage? That's low (we paid 40p/mile in the private sector in 2008, and I think that's what my public sector employer pays now...). That said - possibly skewed by stuff like the extra Xp per mile for carrying a passenger (per passenger) and for carrying equipment?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  14. gembo
    Member

    Oops, I appear to have become confused.

    Car mileage is 40p, or nmaybe 42p. Bike mileage is 25p

    Posted 6 years ago #
  15. Frenchy
    Member

    Car mileage is 40p, or nmaybe 42p. Bike mileage is 25p
    45p now.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  16. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Do CECers have to pay tax on the extra 5p? I thought the HMRC limit for bike mileage was 20p/mile, which is what my work pays.

    I always claim bike mileage/motorbike mileage on the rare occasion I have some business travel or additional commute length.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  17. newtoit
    Member

    Bicycle mileage approved HMRC rates are 20p/mile, and car rates 45p/mile for the first 10,000 miles then reducing thereafter. This is only for business mileage, so travelling to your normal place of work doesn't count.

    Any mileage paid in excess of these rates should be reported on your P11D (ask your payroll department - it's the benefits reporting form), included in your pay and tax paid on it.

    On the flipside, if they pay less than the approved rates you can claim tax relief for the difference. You do that by submitting a P87 form, though if your expenses are over £2,500 in a year you have to do self assessment. Don't pay any of these "mileage tax relief" companies to do it for you, it's a huge waste of money - if you have records then the form shouldn't take long to fill in, and if you don't have records then you won't be able to support your claim if HMRC ask!

    Employers can opt to pay below the approved rate, and tell HMRC about it to save you paperwork. Sceptical how many do that though!

    Posted 6 years ago #
  18. gembo
    Member

    Yes CEC cyclists taxed on the 5p

    Obviously my big mileage is to and from work which is not really something you can claim, generally. I have been on HMRC website (not about cycling) and examples are really linked to travelling sales reps.

    When I claimed this (I had a pal who also claimed and we used to see who cycled the most) could maybe get £12.50 added per month. Most maybe £22.50 ever

    approx. twice as much I guess if I drove instead of cycling? But new bits for a bike are a good bit cheaper than new bits for cars?

    Now I did about six miles yesterday on the council's own electric bike. not sure if that would be claimable? [but not claimed at all for two years since pal left] There are pool cars (not sure how the fuel is monitored) and I think pool electric cars too.

    Posted 6 years ago #

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