Bike2Work Scheme and Budget 2010

g0g · 13-11-2010 03:15PM

This forum I assume is mainly full of cyclists. Having only "re-become" a cyclist earlier this year due to the CTW scheme I think it's a great idea and should stay!

I could have afforded the bike either way, but I think a scheme like this is great for both (a) getting commuters out of cars and (b) getting people out there doing a healthy sport! I probably wouldn't have bothered my bum but for the great deal! I realise the main purpose is for commuting, but I'm sure it must have done wonders for the sport in this country!

at1withmyself · 13-11-2010 03:33PM

g0g wrote: »

This forum I assume is mainly full of cyclists. Having only "re-become" a cyclist earlier this year due to the CTW scheme I think it's a great idea and should stay! I could have afforded the bike either way, but I think a scheme like this is great for both (a) getting commuters out of cars and (b) getting people out there doing a healthy sport! I probably wouldn't have bothered my bum but for the great deal! I realise the main purpose is for commuting, but I'm sure it must have done wonders for the sport in this country!

A lot of people where I work are the same and wouldn't have started cycling wiithout the scheme so its a good thing IMO as there are a few less cars on the already over populated roads.

The comment above is very reflective on my local bike shops and anyone who has asked for my help when choosing a suitable bike on the scheme has ended up getting a bike either outside of the country or county as the competitive edge has gone from the local shops due to the scheme. When I got mine I was quoted 100 euro above the RRP in a local shop so had to go elsewhere :mad:

kona · 13-11-2010 08:02PM

No wonder this country is ****ed.
Daysah are you in the public sector? because im sick of subsidising that waste of space. Sick of my taxes subsidising methadone for junkies, sick of its subsidising people abusing social welfare, sick of subsidising the pensions on ministers, teachers, consultant and any other bunch of greedy inefficient bastards bleeding the country dry.
Your not subsidising anything at all, your colleague in work, isnt getting free money for **** sake, hes buying a bike that he is going to use out of money he has earned.
The cycle2work scheme is costing the government **** all, in fact id say its possibly making money from it, the knock of effect is that bike shops employ more staff, who in turn pay tax, the bikes provide VAT , then the servicing on said bikes provides VAT along with the other bits and pieces. The government has gotten people to spend money on something they may not have. Country is in a recession and people spending money is good.

dayshah · 13-11-2010 11:01PM

kona wrote: »

No wonder this country is ****ed.
Daysah are you in the public sector? because im sick of subsidising that waste of space. Sick of my taxes subsidising methadone for junkies, sick of its subsidising people abusing social welfare, sick of subsidising the pensions on ministers, teachers, consultant and any other bunch of greedy inefficient bastards bleeding the country dry.
Your not subsidising anything at all, your colleague in work, isnt getting free money for **** sake, hes buying a bike that he is going to use out of money he has earned.
The cycle2work scheme is costing the government **** all, in fact id say its possibly making money from it, the knock of effect is that bike shops employ more staff, who in turn pay tax, the bikes provide VAT , then the servicing on said bikes provides VAT along with the other bits and pieces. The government has gotten people to spend money on something they may not have. Country is in a recession and people spending money is good.

No, I work in the private sector. I am subsidising my friends hobby because despite similar incomes, I am paying more tax.

Its quite simple. Because my friends hobby is to cycle on a new bike he pays less tax than me. Why should I pay more tax than someone who's hobby is to go cycling on the weekend on a new bike?

You said the scheme is keeping you in a job. Why should I give you a hand out? Handouts for you, but not for anyone else. I admire your convictions :rolleyes:

I outlined earlier why such a scheme can not make money for the government. Its an economic and mathematical impossibility. Its good for people to spend money in a recession, just not on Chinese, French, German and Italian imports.

dited · 13-11-2010 11:09PM

While I am a supporter of the CTW scheme, there remains an inherent inequity in the manner in which it is left to the vagaries of individual employers to decide whether or not a PAYE worker can avail of the scheme or not. Surely there must be some method of enabling those workers whose employers refuse to implement the scheme, to apply directly to the Revenue for a tax refund on any money spent on a bike etc, subject to similar criteria that are present inthe CTW scheme - €1000 limit etc. This could be managed in a similar fashion to the way in which it's possible to claim tax relief on medical expenses incurred.

dayshah · 13-11-2010 11:11PM

dited wrote: »

While I am a supporter of the CTW scheme, there remains an inherent inequity in the manner in which it is left to the vagaries of individual employers to decide whether or not a PAYE worker can avail of the scheme or not. Surely there must be some method of enabling those workers whose employers refuse to implement the scheme, to apply directly to the Revenue for a tax refund on any money spent on a bike etc, subject to similar criteria that are present inthe CTW scheme - €1000 limit etc. This could be managed in a similar fashion to the way in which it's possible to claim tax relief on medical expenses incurred.

Or maybe even send in your receipt at the end of year and get a tax credit. That would be an improvement on the current system.

Twin-go · 14-11-2010 02:50PM

Well I ordered my bike on Saturday. Specialized Allez.

Bike2Work Scheme and Budget 2010

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