New research reveals one in five commuters now cycle to work
Cycling to work could save commuters a whopping £1,360 each year as the average professional spends approximately £28 every week just to get to the office by car and public transport.
A new study by retailer Argos has revealed that one in five workers are already helping their bank balance by cycling to work, rising to almost 39 per cent in London. Not only is this saving commuters precious pounds but just under half (46 per cent) said it also speeds up their journey. What’s more, nine in 10 of these commuters say they enjoy the daily cycle.
With the average working Brit spending £450 on their bike and cycling gear, the initial cost of commuting by bike could be earnt back after just four months.
The research found that workers are most concerned with using cycling to get fit on their commute but 45 per cent also chose the cycle lane to help save money and over a third (37 per cent) are concerned with helping the environment.
Of those that don’t currently cycle to work, a quarter (26 per cent) would consider taking it up. A fifth (22 per cent) of workers haven’t taken up the two-wheel journey yet because there’s no office shower to get them smelling fresh as a daisy. Meanwhile, a third felt it was too dangerous to do regularly and 28 per cent thought the distance was simply too much for them to overcome.
Simon Read, Personal Finance Expert, said: “When it comes to saving money, cycling to work is an easy win for commuters. Once you’ve splashed out on a bike, then using it every day will help improve your wealth as well as your health.
"The cost of a bike and gear could pay for itself in just four months, which means the more you pedal after that, the more savings you make. And that's cash that can be used for whatever you like, whether putting towards a rewarding holiday - which you may feel you deserve after all that cycling - or just stashed aside for a rainy day."
Despite any fears keeping them off a bike, 27 per cent would consider cycling to work to save money and a quarter would do the same for part of their journey if they had a bike that could easily get on and off public transport.
A perfect solution is the Oyama Commuter Light 16” Folding Bike, new to Argos and available now for £499.99. It folds in seconds and is easy to lift with an alloy frame, making commutes simpler than ever before.
Lauren Slater, Senior Sports and Leisure Buyer at Argos, said: “With train fares newly announced to increase once again in January, many workers are really feeling the financial pinch of their daily commute. We’re all familiar with that rage-inducing feeling of being jam-packed on a hot train or stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic so it’s no wonder that so many are looking at cycling to help them save money, while also staying fit and de-stressed.
“Our data shows that sales of adult bikes have risen almost 70 per cent in the last three years, while folding bikes are proving even more popular and have doubled in the same time. If you’re new to cycling then a folding bike is the perfect introduction to the world of cycle lanes and helmets as you can easily mix your ride with a stint on public transport.”