Advice for the Travel Plan Coordinator to successfully implement cycle-to-work based initiatives is similar to the advice for walk-to-work initiatives.

Firstly, it’s important to get the support of your management in what you are going to try to achieve.

Secondly, the more people that know about your plans for encouraging cycling, the easier it will be to realise your ultimate target of increasing cycling to work. One way to get support and spread the word is to organise a ‘staff BUG’, that is, a Bike User Group.

Thirdly, look out for free resources and grants that are available for additional support such as cycle training and cycle storage solutions.

Your Bike User Group (BUG) should include people who you know cycle to work for at least some of the time. As with a WAG (Walking Action Group) the short term aim of the BUG could be to help you encourage others to exercise. Over the longer term your aim will be to encourage a greater proportion of the staff to cycle to and from work.  

Make sure you identify people within your organisation who will be able to help you as early as possible. Make them aware of what you expect of them and how much time you envisage this taking.  Keen cyclists are likely to be enthusiastic about your ideas so use their eagerness as much as possible as a resource.

Here are some ideas of what you could task your BUG to help you with:

• Raising the profile by supporting and helping to arrange events such as Bike Breakfasts and Bike to Work events.
• Arranging social events and encouraging new cyclists through, for example, group social rides at lunchtime. 
• Arranging cycle maintenance clinics. (These are often called Doctor Bike sessions.)  Experienced cyclists in your BUG might be willing to carry out bike maintenance sessions. Alternatively many local bike shops may visit the organisation if asked. 
• Advising you of both on-site and external improvements that would help make cycling a more attractive option
• Mapping cycle routes for the benefit of those who don’t cycle at the moment but who show a willingness to give it a go. 

Set out what you and the BUG want to achieve at the start of the process and how you propose to accomplish your aims. As with trying to encourage walking to work, do some research and identify initiatives that have worked well elsewhere. Talk to people who've been involved in successful schemes elsewhere as they’ll be able to tell you what works well and what doesn’t. Chances are that people who have been involved in other schemes will be more than willing to talk to you.