subsidised bike scheme

[spidermom]

Not neccessarily a dig at the greens!!! BUt we have the cycle to work scheme in work now and they have picked the most horrendously expensive bikes I have ever seen!!!


Why is this??

There is a local bike shop I use for the kids...which is reasonably priced...so it is cronyism at my work level or has anyone else with these schemes being promoted noticed just how expensive the bikes are???


PS...would not surprise that some cosy deal was done by my work place!!!!!

[fabra]

It works very well where I work. They picked four shops that you could purchase the bike from, and one of the shops had fairly bog-standard bikes, the other three stocked good brands like Giant, Specialised and Trek.

That said, it's a bit of a false economy buying a cheap bike if you want to use it to commute to work every day - because it will end up rusting away in your back shed. You're better off getting a good, light bike with good gears and panniers - and then you'll actually use it.

I thought the bike scheme was the best scheme our HR have ever introduced

[spidermom]

It works very well where I work. They picked four shops that you could purchase the bike from, and one of the shops had fairly bog-standard bikes, the other three stocked good brands like Giant, Specialised and Trek.

That said, it's a bit of a false economy buying a cheap bike if you want to use it to commute to work every day - because it will end up rusting away in your back shed. You're better off getting a good, light bike with good gears and panniers - and then you'll actually use it.

I thought the bike scheme was the best scheme our HR have ever introduced

Just cronyism for our muppets so!!!!!!....SIGH!!.............

[riven]

it all depends on how much you use your bike.

In holland you get a tax refund spread over 12 months that pays for your bike. The max claim is EUR800 and the 'catch' (not enforced) is that you have to cycle to work at least 3 days a week on average. The company has to sign up and they then become liable for fraud as well as the person claiming.

In Holland many people cycle somewhere every day. Paying 2500 for a bicycle is not unusual expecially considering that the bike should be servicable for the next 20 years (10 year anti rust gaurntee).

If you are going to cycle every day pay the price of a second hand banger.

[Digout]

How does the scheme work?

[Simbo67]

Can someone please link to details about Dublin's new bikeshare programme?

[brughahaha]

Completely off topic and I apologise in advance but as I dont have 2500 tax deductable or not! anyone know if the annual garda bike sale takes place and when?

[myksav]

Not neccessarily a dig at the greens!!! BUt we have the cycle to work scheme in work now and they have picked the most horrendously expensive bikes I have ever seen!!!


Why is this??

There is a local bike shop I use for the kids...which is reasonably priced...so it is cronyism at my work level or has anyone else with these schemes being promoted noticed just how expensive the bikes are???


PS...would not surprise that some cosy deal was done by my work place!!!!!

Spidermom, what price is being asked that is horrendously expensive?
My bicycle cost me 450 punts when I bought it, and it is the basic Claud Butler. Compared to other makes of the same entry level, it was 'expensive' but there is a lifetime guarantee on the frame for defects, if it breaks at a weld, I get a new bike.

I expect my bike to last a very long time, say, until I pass it on at my deathbed or am too shook to swing a leg over the saddle in about 40-50 years.

I don't doubt that some cronyism does take place with this scheme, check around as many bike shops as you can to get a feel for the price range of good bikes. If there's much difference, put in a complaint.

[bellingthecats1]

Interesting to note that one of the bike shops listed by my employer is Belfield Bike Shop owned by our own esteemed Minister Eamon Ryan. Also a start-up company (Bike to Work - Tax free bikes for Work) has been established by an active Green Party member to 'liaise' with employers and take a commission. Green politics are clean politics indeed. Perhaps this is an example of one of those 'green jobs' created under the 'Green New Deal'.