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The number of people taking their bikes to work has almost doubled since 2002. There are now around 50,000 daily journeys by bike in London and during the morning traffic peak there is one bike for every five cars inside London’s congestion charge zone, according to London Cycling Campaign (LCC).
Among the government’s efforts to cut down on emissions is a scheme called “Cycle to Work”, where employers get the opportunity to offer their staff the option of buying a bike out of their pre-tax income. This almost cuts the cost of buying a new bike by half.
The LCC, however, points out that, even if your employer does not make use of the scheme, you will still save the cost of the bike within months by not using public transport.
But cycling in London is not risk free. People should make sure they use helmets and other useful equipment, such as bright reflective clothing when riding at night, suggests the LCC. It is also a good idea to look around for different bike insurances.
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