LCAG

Change is caused by campaigning – whether shouting loudly or more traditional letter writing.

There has been a Cycle to Work scheme for many years now, set up by the government to encourage cycling. It encourages employees to start commuting by bicycle with discounted costs (of the initial bike purchase and accessories using tax rebates – see www.bike2workscheme.co.uk for details). Most employers are happy to encourage this as it is no charge to them and simple to operate. Indeed, they may be attracted to the benefits of healthier and happier employees, less pollution, congestion etc.

However Leeds City Council seems to be less enthusiastic than most employers. Our inside contact has told us that the council may not run the scheme this year, though their HR department often receive enquiries about it, perhaps two per week.

Whether the senior council leaders are pro-car anti-cyclists or simply apathetic about this issue, it is LCAG’s view that the council should be encouraged to operate and actively promote the Cycle to Work scheme, particularly as it is a public sector organisation with responsibility for transport infrastructure and public health. In fact the council has publicly stated environmental aims (see www.leeds.gov.uk) yet in relation to this matter it does not seem to be serious when it says, “We want to lead by example and to encourage others to improve their environmental standards”.

Letter – print out or e-mail LCAG encourage you to send a letter to your councillors about this issue. Cross ‘X’ appears in four places where you need to make the letter personal (these are your address, Councillors address, Councillors name, and your name under your signature). The linked to letter provides further suggestions but please feel free to amend it for yourself, indeed it would be better to use your own words as far as possible.

To find out who your councillors are (everyone in Leeds has three) simply enter your postcode into the website democracy.leeds.gov.uk/mgFindCouncillor