Call centre staff have borrowed bikes to become the first to take part in a council Cycle to Work scheme.
A total of 65 people signed up to take part in the scheme to get more people travelling to work on two wheels.
The Ventura call centre staff were each given a bike to use for a four-week trial period. They were also given full cycle training and support. They were asked to keep an online diary of their cycling and at the end of the four weeks they could simply hand the bike back or buy it at a reduced rate and continue to cycle to work.
The project was organised by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and cycling organisation Cycle Experience. It has been funded from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund – a national Government initiative geared to stimulating sustainable access to jobs and reducing carbon.
Councillor Gerald Smith said: “The Cycle to Work project has so many advantages and so I am not surprised that Ventura has joined us on this important pilot scheme. I would like to thank them for their support and congratulate their members of staff who are trying the scheme.”
Vicky Jackson of Ventura said: “We have had a fantastic and unprecedented response to the Cycle to Work challenge and thank all of our team that are taking part.
“It’s a huge advantage to our team to be able to try cycling to work and feel the benefits of it in order to potentially make a long term change to their travel arrangements. To also receive guidance on the most effective route to take, and safety advice is an even bigger incentive.”