Cyclescheme (cycle to work tax scheme) abuse?

gigino

How many people use their vouchers to buy a bike they actually commute to work on ( rather than use for bikes for weekend sport / triathlons, or motor accessories / other goods ) ?

super_furry

Who cares? People are buying bikes, getting fitter and bike shops are doing great business. It's about the only worthwhile thing the Green Party did.

amacca

gigino wrote: »

How many people use their vouchers to buy a bike they actually commute to work on ( rather than use for bikes for weekend sport / triathlons, or motor accessories / other goods ) ?

guilty as charged yer honour!

I don't cycle to work on it all the time...I have used it to get exercise on the weekend as well.

I mostly dont cycle to work on it in the worst of winter weather (pissing rain, thunder, snow etc)

I reckoned although this is technically abuse of the system...they surely were not going to be able to make sure you use the thing 100 % of the time and if it reduces your use of a car even a little its having the desired outcome.......just by people having a good bike they are likely to use it and thus not use a car more often no.....

of course if scheme is costing a lot vs dubious benefits then close it down.

talla10

In fairness that scheme was always going to be abused!! Have you seen the rain we get??Not cycling in that

PogMoThoin

I heard of lots who bought lawnmowers, did a deal with the shops

landsleaving

PogMoThoin wrote: »

I heard of lots who bought lawnmowers, did a deal with the shops

Where even sells both?

--LOS--

I don't know but you can't deny that a lot more people are using bikes now which is not a bad thing.

gigino

PogMoThoin wrote: »

I heard of lots who bought lawnmowers, did a deal with the shops

landsleaving wrote: »

Where even sells both?

I know a fellow whosays he bought motoring accessories in Halfords with his. They sell car trailers, motor accessories, alloy wheels, kids bikes, camping stuff... Everyone takes advantage of this scheme, I'm just wondering did anyone ever buy a bicycle with it and use it for commuting to work ? The bicycle racks ( where provided ) are still empty outside any workplaces I see. I wonder how much money the revenue is losing as a result of the scheme...if everyone paid their fair share of tax we would all be better off ?

Chris P. Bacon

I got a bike back in April,and i have used it twice it was a great idea at the time but we just dont have the weather to be cycling everyday.

Pherekydes

PogMoThoin wrote: »

I heard of lots who bought lawnmowers, did a deal with the shops

Who'd drive to work on a lawnmower? :pac:

Jesus Wept

Pherekydes wrote: »

Who'd drive to work on a lawnmower? :pac:

That'd be awesome.

Kintarō Hattori

If you use the bike once a week to get to work or for a part of your journey then that's fine. You don't have to use it everyday.

I do agree with the general sentiment in the thread. There are more bikes than ever now on the road and people are out getting fresh air and getting healthier which is fantastic.

temply

Got mine back in April, didn't cycle to work at first, but cycle in every day now, except when its lashing, love it I have to say, its a great scheme

CardBordWindow

Am I the only one who commutes daily so?
Regardless of weather too!

Kintarō Hattori

CardBordWindow wrote: »

Am I the only one who commutes daily so?
Regardless of weather too!

I wouldn't think so. You must never have visited the Cycling forum!

stimpson

Rules don't apply to cyclists.

CramCycle

I commute every day to work on my bike, even last winter when I was the only one who made it in on most days.

The only thing i don't like are LBSs explaining the rules wrong to people and convincing them they have to spend the full 1000euros.

Chris P. Bacon

CramCycle wrote: »

I commute every day to work on my bike, even last winter when I was the only one who made it in on most days.

The only thing i don't like are LBSs explaining the rules wrong to people and convincing them they have to spend the full 1000euros.

LBSs???

oppenheimer1

Good to see the excuses about not using the bike and blaming the weather. It doesn't rain that much in Ireland and when it does, It doesn't rain all day. Met Éireann say theres something like only 1/100 chance of getting wet on a commute to work on a bicycle

CramCycle

Chris P. Bacon wrote: »

LBSs???

Local Bike Shops.

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Good to see the excuses about not using the bike and blaming the weather. It doesn't rain that much in Ireland and when it does, It doesn't rain all day. Met Éireann say theres something like only 1/100 chance of getting wet on a commute to work on a bicycle

Ireland has one of the lowest rainfalls in europe AFAIK, 300+ days of cycling a yerar and I have only got soaked on 3 occasions so Met Eireann agree with my experiences quite well.

Tonyandthewhale

CramCycle wrote: »

Ireland has one of the lowest rainfalls in europe AFAIK, 300+ days of cycling a yerar and I have only got soaked on 3 occasions so Met Eireann agree with my experiences quite well.

I don't know how accurate that is but we certainly don't get as much rain as a lot of people think. It only rains for a few minutes at a time usually and I can count on one hand how many times I get proper rain on my commute in a year. The people who complain most about the rain are the ones who spend most of their time indoors and don't really know what they're talking about.

Besides, what's wrong with the rain? I've never understood why it bothers people so much.

amacca

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Good to see the excuses about not using the bike and blaming the weather. It doesn't rain that much in Ireland and when it does, It doesn't rain all day. Met Éireann say theres something like only 1/100 chance of getting wet on a commute to work on a bicycle

where I used to work was approx 15km away and while I made it a lot of mornings the threat of rain did make a big difference to me.

wet gear a big hassle to put on and off + no adequate changing facilities

15km in even light drizzle = a wet miserable bunny starting work no matter what way you cut it

+ it doesnt rain that much in ireland???????????


am I the only one that has witnessed a maximum of two to three days of good weather back to back since the start of june......I'm beginning to think we have a monsoon rather than a summer

ffs...I've forgotton what the sun looks like

no wonder they worshipped it in the past here......must've been quite an event when it did appear


I dunno...maybe I live in sort of bizarre microclimate

or

maybe we dont have have an overall large total rainfall amount but its just at it on and off so frequently (with smaller volumes actually falling overall) that it seems like it rains perpetually here.


eg: lived in LA for four months......never seen rain once...never needed to worry about rain when you were planning outdoors .....then again you did have to worry about your pale Irish skin getting irradiated to melanoma levels in about 3 seconds

amacca

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

Besides, what's wrong with the rain? I've never understood why it bothers people so much.

you get wet, its cold and miserable if you don't have the right gear...having the right gear can be an additional pain in the hole if you just want to do something casual outdoors...

I ride motorcycles for pleasure.......when its wet there is less grip on the roads + I find it a less pleasurable experience.....motercycle covered in muck after each and every wet ride....pain to clean it

if you want to enjoy a day in a city....its a pain going from place to place if the rain is heavy (+ you dont want to be in wet gear for this)

everywhere looks dirty-er......if its heavy rain that means there are grey clouds in the sky...less light, everywhere looks darker more depressing etc

while rain is very necessary and can be very enjoyable (if youre prepared and in a nice outdoor setting) I cant see why anyone wouldnt see the drawbacks (in terms of enjoyment of a lot of recreational activities) of rain

CramCycle

amacca wrote: »

where I used to work was approx 15km away and while I made it a lot of mornings the threat of rain did make a big difference to me.

wet gear a big hassle to put on and off + no adequate changing facilities

Most commuting cyclists would carry a change due to sweating regardless if it's possible, I change in the jacks most days.

15km in even light drizzle = a wet miserable bunny starting work no matter what way you cut it

+ it doesnt rain that much in ireland???????????

Told to me by someone who works in Met Eireann, he was talking about Dublin though.

am I the only one that has witnessed a maximum of two to three days of good weather back to back since the start of june......I'm beginning to think we have a monsoon rather than a summer

What part of the country are you in? generally since the beginning of June I remember dry days, only the last fortnight has been damp/overcast

CatFromHue

i used to cycle to work everyday for about 9 months when i lived in belfast.

i think i only cycled in the rain maybe 3 or 4 times. certainly there was only once when i got pissed on. this was from august til may approx. i used to wear short and leggings and then changed in the toilets at work.

now i drive to work and i dream of being able to cycle (long term knee injury stops me). i used to get public transport and hated it. there is nothing like sitting on a dart for 55 mins when it's full of spanish students! i dont like driving to work cos of the traffic, it's grand when there is no traffic though.

oppenheimer1

amacca wrote: »

where I used to work was approx 15km away and while I made it a lot of mornings the threat of rain did make a big difference to me.

wet gear a big hassle to put on and off + no adequate changing facilities

15km in even light drizzle = a wet miserable bunny starting work no matter what way you cut it

+ it doesnt rain that much in ireland???????????


am I the only one that has witnessed a maximum of two to three days of good weather back to back since the start of june......I'm beginning to think we have a monsoon rather than a summer

ffs...I've forgotton what the sun looks like

no wonder they worshipped it in the past here......must've been quite an event when it did appear


I dunno...maybe I live in sort of bizarre microclimate

or

maybe we dont have have an overall large total rainfall amount but its just at it on and off so frequently (with smaller volumes actually falling overall) that it seems like it rains perpetually here.


eg: lived in LA for four months......never seen rain once...never needed to worry about rain when you were planning outdoors .....then again you did have to worry about your pale Irish skin getting irradiated to melanoma levels in about 3 seconds

If you are cycling 15km you'll need to shower and change when you arrive no matter what the weather, unless you cycle at the most leisurely pace - so the lack of adequate changing facilities is a good excuse. Provision of showers is a must for a cyclist after a longish cycle.

Rain however is not a good excuse. Since February, I think I've gotten wet twice on my walk to and from work (45mins each way). Ireland is not a particularly wet country. The climate is mild and overcast generally with short, sometimes heavy, showers. Rainfall rarely lasts for extended periods. Last year, for example, there were between 130 and 150 wet days (ie days where rain fell at least once) in Ireland.

As I said, its unlikely anyone will get caught in a shower during morning and evening rush hours.

And for those who believe the general accepted wisedom that its always pissing rain in Ireland, read this http://www.met.ie/climate/monthly_summarys/year10sum.pdf

Naikon

"Just do as I say, don't do as I do"

amacca

CramCycle wrote: »

What part of the country are you in? generally since the beginning of June I remember dry days, only the last fortnight has been damp/overcast

midlands

in your defence.....ive regularly been in the local town and its been pissing rain and less than two kilometres out its not raining at all or vice versa.........lots of lakes around, maybe that contributes to precipitation?

remember it being the same last year

maybe I have some sort of rain complex...but...kells road races rained off last year.....heavy rain near me on that sunday this year etc....very similar conditions through June as I remember...not necessarily heavy rain but nevr an uninterrupted run...drizzle stop...light rain...day or two ok....heavy rain for three days stop..over cast back to light rain back to heavy continuous rain...drizzle...two or three days farmers scramble to try and get hay...back to heavy rain...light rain etc etc....just fcukin rain an fcuk off for even one week!


.....I do have a rain complex, that much is clear

amacca

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

so the lack of adequate changing facilities is a good excuse.

Rain however is not a good excuse.

take your point...but I'm not actually making excuses though...I dont really feel that guilty about not cycling the mornings its going to be wet..this isnt really a moral issue for me or anything...I'm not comfortable with it - it isnt convenient for me, I dont do it...I dont care who thinks I'm being a wuss or making excuses...I learned a long time ago to do whatever the hell I want...it usually works out a lot better for me that way.....after years of pandering to other peoples opinions

I'm giving my personal reasons (even if they are flawed)....in addition, to me my commute was also more dangerous in the wet and I didnt feel comfortable with cars whizzing by (not slowing down or making provisions for the rainy conditions) in reduced visibility etc

it is interesting to see the scientific/statistical data not backing up the generally held belief that it rains all the time here:)...feels like it to me though

CramCycle

amacca wrote: »

midlands

From Longford myself, used to cycle 17km into work every day when I was a teenager over the summer and it was never an issue (well rarely, that said I used to never sweat then either so times have changed ).

in your defence.....ive regularly been in the local town and its been pissing rain and less than two kilometres out its not raining at all or vice versa.........lots of lakes around, maybe that contributes to precipitation?

I think thats Ireland in general, I've cycled from the city centre in the blazing sunshine out to Tallaght only to be overcast and a couple of (alot of) degrees lower.

maybe I have some sort of rain complex...but...kells road races rained off last year.....heavy rain near me on that sunday this year etc....very similar conditions through June as I remember...not necessarily heavy rain but nevr an uninterrupted run...drizzle stop...light rain...day or two ok....heavy rain for three days stop..over cast back to light rain back to heavy continuous rain...drizzle...two or three days farmers scramble to try and get hay...back to heavy rain...light rain etc etc....just fcukin rain an fcuk off for even one week!

I know what you mean but 2 things

1. It's an irish trait (I'll burn for this post) to only remember the misery or overcoming it, I honestly think talking about misery is what makes most of us happy sometimes :pac:

2. Train harder and the rain won't seem so bad :P

Also we got hay this year (but silage is handier if you don't mind the wash after but you try telling the seniors that).

CramCycle

amacca wrote: »

I'm giving my personal reasons (even if they are flawed).

There the best reasons, if you don't like it for those reasons, don't do it. i know quite a few think us cyclists are a bunch of pushy "are opinion is the right one" **** but I don't care how anyone gets to work, so long as they have some cop while they are on the road.

There have been a few evenings over the years where I just locked my baby bike up and got a taxi when I couldn't be assed, it happens.

amacca

CramCycle wrote: »

1. It's an irish trait (I'll burn for this post) to only remember the misery or overcoming it, I honestly think talking about misery is what makes most of us happy sometimes :pac:

ah no in fairness that could be applied to me at times..I like a good moan

CramCycle wrote: »

2. Train harder and the rain won't seem so bad :P

I'm training for the dublin marathon at the moment .....run 5 times a week hail rain or shine...just dont like the inconvenience etc of rain addled cycling to work

with the running its different..theres no inconvenience..I dont care if I get wet....im not cold or miserable no matter if its hailing...because Im running Im toasty

CramCycle wrote: »

Also we got hay this year (but silage is handier if you don't mind the wash after but you try telling the seniors that).

I know...my father has what can only be described as a hankering for hay...despite the inconvenience/torture I remember it causing

I go for bagged silage...little more expensive but never a headache.

CramCycle

amacca wrote: »

I'm training for the dublin marathon at the moment

See you there

Magic Beans

CramCycle wrote: »

Ireland has one of the lowest rainfalls in europe AFAIK, 300+ days of cycling a yerar and I have only got soaked on 3 occasions so Met Eireann agree with my experiences quite well.

I wouldn't swear to that in court. Link. Admittedly the stats are based on capital cities but it's probably fair to say that the west and north coasts would be wetter than Dublin. I remember from my own cycling days either sweating like a pedo in a Barney suit wearing full wet weather gear or hauling it around because it looked like rain. Maybe my experience was unique.

CramCycle

Magic Beans wrote: »

I remember from my own cycling days either sweating like a pedo in a Barney suit wearing full wet weather gear or hauling it around because it looked like rain. Maybe my experience was unique.

It's not unique but my advice would be: Don't wear wet gear, wear a t-shirt and shorts and change into your work clothes on arrival. hauling your work clothes is no more difficult than hauling wet gear but your work clothes won't get wet from sweat etc. if it does rain

CramCycle

Magic Beans wrote: »

I wouldn't swear to that in court. Link.

Like I said, told to me by a guy in Met Eireann, I have no proof, just personal experience.