Anyone ride their bike to work?

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

At the end of the day, if we excluded motor vehicles from the road. The death rates on those roads now only being cycled on, or crossed by pedestrians, cats, dogs, hedgehogs etc....
Would be dramtically reduced.
If we excluded cyclist from the roads instead. I bet the deaths would be much as the same as they are now.

 

[sooey]

Looking at that video, the cyclist is virtually in the middle of the road when the van hits him. Kamikaze cyclist or what???

 

[RonnyRaygun]

I totally agree about the cameras, and must say that the chap in the clip, despite having a camera, does not portray all that is good about cyclists, particularly when shouting at the van driver - I think he went over the top actually, and his actions possibly encouraged the drivers reaction.

Yes, he did shout agressively, but what would you do if 2.5 tonnes of Transit was about to trap you? A polite "Excuse me sir, but I really do feel that if you don't pull over to the right in the next two seco...SPLAT!" isn't really going to work

Looking at that video, the cyclist is virtually in the middle of the road when the van hits him. Kamikaze cyclist or what???

Hmmm, passing a parked vehicle...which cyclists are allowed to do! All too often motorists seem to think cyclists have the ability to go over or through parked cars!

 

[RonnyRaygun]

So Cyclists aren't tax payers then? And are bikes VAT free?

Actually mine was VAT, NI, and PAYE free, on the Cycle To Work scheme...
That's got to wind up the Daily Mail readers out there

Nope, that's a tax reduction at source. VAT is still paid even if the cost is reduced, and VAT reclaimed - as is the case with any business transaction.

OK Mr Pedantic The point is the end user (the person who cycles to work) doesn't pay any tax on the cycle due to purchasing it through a salary sacrifice. It amounts to something like a 40% saving...and you get to pay monthly and interest free. Even the company saves on NI contributions. Everyone's a winner

 

[LooPrEvil]

OK Mr Pedantic The point is the end user (the person who cycles to work) doesn't pay any tax on the cycle due to purchasing it through a salary sacrifice.

Actually, you do not purchase the cycle through a salary sacrifice scheme. The employer owns the property. Ownership of the property only transfers to you at the end of their salary sacrifice agreement if you make a further one off payment, equating to what is considered to be a reasonable market value. If this payment is not made then ownership does not transfer and remains with the employer, who can then dispose of the property through what ever suitable manner they desire.

Lou.

 

[Monkeh]

particularly when shouting at the van driver - I think he went over the top

I disagree. I can see how the driver could get the wrong end of the stick hearing that, but he was simply making sure he was heard. Most people haven't experienced that sort of shouting enough to distinguish it from anger.

 

[LooPrEvil]

I totally agree about the cameras, and must say that the chap in the clip, despite having a camera, does not portray all that is good about cyclists, particularly when shouting at the van driver - I think he went over the top actually, and his actions possibly encouraged the drivers reaction.

Yes, he did shout agressively, but what would you do if 2.5 tonnes of Transit was about to trap you?

That cyclist was being antagonistic. He was taking actions to cause reactions from motorists, through his own stupidity. He had put the camera on to capture such reactions, and once had baited his prey, the driver acted in retaliation to the cyclist. The cyclist is lucky that van driver did not actually take more physical action.

Lou.

 

[ellal]

OK Mr Pedantic The point is the end user (the person who cycles to work) doesn't pay any tax on the cycle due to purchasing it through a salary sacrifice. It amounts to something like a 40% saving...and you get to pay monthly and interest free. Even the company saves on NI contributions. Everyone's a winner

But as I was pointing out, at some point the government gains from the purchase of said bicycle, and I was specific in mentioning VAT for a good reason!

So it's not pedantic at all...If you're going to make a sweeping statement, it's best to get your facts straight!...

 

[RonnyRaygun]

Actually, you do not purchase the cycle through a salary sacrifice scheme. The employer owns the property. Ownership of the property only transfers to you at the end of their salary sacrifice agreement if you make a further one off payment, equating to what is considered to be a reasonable market value. If this payment is not made then ownership does not transfer and remains with the employer, who can then dispose of the property through what ever suitable manner they desire.

Oh boy... another pedant

You are correct...I can't deny that...it does technically constitute a rental agreement.
However, at the end of the year after the company purchased the bike, they sold it to me for a penny, so arguably I rented a bike for a year then got a practically free - albeit used - bike.
If I'd have bought the bike instead of my employer a year previously, it would have cost me 40% more than the cost of "renting" the bike for a year...and at the end of that year it would still have been a used, one year old bike...

Seems like a good deal to me

 

[LooPrEvil]

You purchased the bike for 1p, but if your employer was challenged by HMRC I doubt they could justify that 1p is fair market value for a cycle that is only 12 months old! But that is not an issue you need to be concerned about, so you are right to take advantage.

Lou.

 

[RonnyRaygun]

The cyclist is lucky that van driver did not actually take more physical action.

I think the van driver was lucky he didn't take more physical action!

It's self preservation, and something to take very seriously when cycling in London...

 

[RonnyRaygun]

You purchased the bike for 1p, but if your employer was challenged by HMRC I doubt they could justify that 1p is fair market value for a cycle that is only 12 months old! But that is not an issue you need to be concerned about, so you are right to take advantage.

Lou.

I dunno...6000 miles down the line, it's pretty battered...most bikes don't do that in a lifetime!!

I think fair market value is supposed to be something like 5% of the purchase price...so about £20 which would still have been a good deal...

Also, as a rental agreement, you could argue that any maintenance performed by me over the year should have been met by my employer also...

 

[LooPrEvil]

You purchased the bike for 1p, but if your employer was challenged by HMRC I doubt they could justify that 1p is fair market value for a cycle that is only 12 months old! But that is not an issue you need to be concerned about, so you are right to take advantage.

Lou.

I dunno...6000 miles down the line, it's pretty battered...most bikes don't do that in a lifetime!!

Then it was not a good buy, even for 1p. You should have entered into another agreement instead, and got a better quality cycle.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

RonnyRaygun
Just out of interest what make/model of bike is it?
Did you also get any accessories/clothing on loan too?

 

[LooPrEvil]

RonnyRaygun
Just out of interest what make/model of bike is it?
Did you also get any accessories/clothing on loan too?

Unless his employer is registered as a credit agency the maximum value he can have under a salary sacrifice scheme is £1000, includes the value of all cycle accessories, clothing and the bike itself.

Most people get bikes to the value of £150 to £250 which to be honest are the cheap end of the market, with low quality components. Chris Boardman (Olympic Cycling Champ) designed a range of cycles that are sold through Halfords and are of an excellent quality, and good value for money, but you can be talking at about £1000 for them.

The most expensive bike I have seen was a specialist mountain bike valued at £7500 (that was about 10 years ago) and you could buy a decent new car for less! It was the first time I had also seen disc brakes on a cycle.

Lou.

Lou.