The UK Cycle to Work Scheme continued to grow in the first half of 2026, with new data from the Cycle to Work Alliance showing continued growth in the Scheme.

A total of 89,599 Cycle to Work certificates were issued in H1 2026, up 2.77% year-on-year from 87,180 in H1 2025. The number of active employer accounts also increased from 27,977 in H1 2025 to 31,201 in H1 2026.

The Cycle to Work Alliance is a coalition of five major Cycle to Work Scheme providers: Cyclescheme, Cycle Solutions, Evans Cycles, Halfords, and SME HCI trading as Perkbox. The Alliance represents around 80% of the Cycle to Work Scheme market.

In Q2 2026, Alliance members issued 54,450 Cycle to Work certificates, up 2.33% compared with the same period in 2025. Active employer accounts increased to 17,700, compared with 15,653 in Q2 2025. The Alliance said engagement in Q2 was higher than in Q1, in line with the seasonal increase in activity typically seen during spring and early summer.

The average transaction value under the Scheme was £1,812 in H1 2026. The Alliance said the Scheme helps employees make cycling more affordable by removing some of the upfront financial barriers to purchasing a bike and equipment through salary sacrifice.

Independent research commissioned by the Cycle to Work Alliance and conducted by Ortus found that 19% of Scheme users would not have purchased a bike without the Scheme.

Steve Edgell, Chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance, said the figures reflected continued growth in the Scheme, with more employers offering the benefit and more employees taking advantage of it. He added that the Scheme continues to make cycling more accessible while supporting active travel and delivering value for employers and employees.

The Cycle to Work Scheme is a tax-efficient employee benefit that enables employees to access bicycles and cycling equipment through employer-provided salary sacrifice arrangements. The Cycle to Work Alliance says the Scheme has helped more than two million people access a bike since its launch.

Photo: Cycle to Work Alliance