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European shared micro-mobility operator Dott is teaming up with a new cycle-to-work scheme, CycleSaver, with the goal of cutting commuting costs for employees.
So far, so familiar, you could be forgiven for thinking. To which I’d say ‘hold your horses’. Read on and it’s clear this is most definitely not just another new scheme provider announcement.
Cycle to work, with a big difference
In partnership with CycleSaver, Dott is introducing a flexible monthly subscription to Dott e-bikes.
Through Dott’s monthly subscription via CycleSaver, riders can enjoy two free 30-minute e-bike trips each day, as well as unlimited free bike unlocks (which usually cost £1).
CycleSaver has already established itself as the UK’s first cycle-to-work scheme to focus exclusively on bike share, offering employees savings on subscriptions to the UK’s top bike share providers – including Lime, Forest, Beryl, Santander Cycles and now Dott.
The familiar bit that grabs attention (but is somewhat contentious)
As a result of the tax benefits of salary sacrifice, the new partnership “will enable employees to save money on Dott’s standard e-bike prices each month, reducing employee commuting costs by up to 47%”.
As is the case for all cycle-to-work scheme providers, whilst the headline-grabbing “saving you up to 47%” features prominently in the press release, this – for a scheme based on tax saving – applies to a (very) small portion of the UK population who find themselves in the Higher rate tax bracket.
Talking numbers, that Additional tax bracket applies to those earning over £120,121 – estimated to be between two and four percent of the UK workforce, depending on whose numbers you cite.
A more typical cycle-to-work saving would be 28% – still a very worthwhile saving – whilst anyone earning over £50,000 (an estimated 13 million people) would save 42%, based on the Higher tax bracket.
Welcome innovation: Supporting more ways to use a bike
Whilst acknowledging the above, there is still plenty to be extremely interested in given this represents the first exclusive, UK-based, shared mobility partnership with a cycle-to-work scheme provider.
Getting people (who do not call themselves cyclists) on bikes remains a critical part of the new mobility transition, supporting and presenting better choices for some journeys – those under five miles being the big, popular, target. Complex behaviour change takes a host of leavers and mechanisms.
This new Dott and CycleSaver cycle-to-work scheme partnership represents a significant new step, a new tool for making change more accessible, more possible, for more people.
At launch, Dino Bertolis, founder and CEO at CycleSaver, reflects: “Partnering with Dott is an exciting step for CycleSaver, as it extends our reach into new cities and enables even more employees to enjoy significant savings on their daily commutes.”
Sustainability and accessibility are at the core of this partnership between CycleSaver and Dott – who are “working to change mobility for good, together”.
Peadar Golden, regional director UKI and Nordics at Dott comments: “By collaborating with CycleSaver, we aim to make sustainable commuting more accessible and affordable for employees across the UK. This partnership aligns with our mission to change mobility for good, together, and help cities to reduce congestion and pollution in urban areas.”
Bike-share in numbers
There are currently “over 4.5 million users of bike-sharing schemes across more than 33 cities in the UK”.
It’s the serving of this market for which CycleSaver was founded, in 2023 – giving these users and others for whom bike-share represents a viable option, access to the HMRC’s cycle-to-work tax savings.
Dott’s e-bikes are currently available in Bath, Bristol and Colchester.
