Last week central government accepted a tender from Cyclescheme to provide tax-efficient bicycles to all UK local authorities, government departments and agencies, non-departmental public bodies, local authorities, police authorities, fire services and educational establishments.
The scheme has been designed to allow staff to save 50% on the purchase of a bike to encourage more staff to cycle to work instead of taking their cars.
But, according to letters from Government employees on Saturday's letters page in the Guardian, some authorities and departments have been reluctant to support such schemes.
One employee wrote: "Cycle to work? A pipe dream now for many civil servants who used to work in local offices. Virtually every Government department has centralised in towns and cities."
Another employee added: "So it's a Government supported scheme... Well some Government departments don't support it."
And an employee from HM Revenue and Customs wrote: "[My organisation] refuses to operate the scheme despite much lobbying from staff. Joined-up Government...?"
