Cycling MP: worthy example or exploiter?

[Oldjohnw]

My own view is , 'well done that man,'

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... SApp_Other

I know when I was a civil servant this was avilable and even used by some, often to the amusement of others.

[Lance Dopestrong]

I used to claim the mileage for cycling at work on my own bike. I can't see the difference really, it all comes out of the public purse whether he claims it on expenses or via the mileage route like I did when I was in the dibble.

Of course, as per the ruling of the Court in Stark v The Post Office (2000) at the Court of Appeal, The Provision and Use of work Equipment Regulations applies to the use of bicycles in the workplace and his employer, whoever that might actually be, therefore has a mandatory duty to ensure he is trained in the use of this piece of equipment. That the bicycle belongs to him makes no difference, as items not belonging to the employer, but brought in by staff for use at work constitute "work equipment" under regulation 2 of PUWER.

[Tangled Metal]

Aren't you a cycling trainer/ coach? Touting for work by any chance?

[Lance Dopestrong]

I am!

But the bulk of my work is for charities, mainly SAR teams, and I do that gratis. I could charge an MP's office an eyewatering amount, and they'd simply slap it on expense

[Tangled Metal]

I cycle to and from work. That's in my time so I can't claim mileage. I bet most people can't. Although it's a good idea to use the bike. Positive all round.

Cyclist keeps fit mentally and physically. They get expenses paid so not out of pocket. They can even claim cycle to work.

Employer gets healthy employee potentially with fewer sick days. They will be paying expenses anyway but at least cycling is probably the cheapest expense for travelling between work sites in company time.

State will get more people out there getting exercise which I believe the evidence shows has benefits to their health and reduces the NHS bill somewhat.

Environment wins if it gets even a minority of journeys away from ICE vehicles and into greener transport options.

There's no down side. Unless it increases those racing habits of some commuters.

[Lance Dopestrong]

Certainly police cycle patrol officers have on average less sick days than officers from any other category or specialism. They're cusuwlly homping at the bit to get cracking.

[Oldjohnw]

I remember when MPs received something like 70p per mile when the rest of us got only 30p. The question was put to the Treasury: what is the evidence that MPs' cars cost more than civil servants' cars to run?

The rules changed.

A number of Scottish MPs used to claim top mileage to travel to and from Westminster, getting hundreds, and then fly Easijet for £20.

This gentleman represents a refreshing approach.

[thirdcrank]

Worthy example or exploiter?

If they are actually riding a bike to carry out their duties and honestly claiming the appropriate allowances, I'd dismiss out-of-hand any suggestion of exploitation, fiddling expenses or whatever.

The question of whether a cycling politician is a worthy example is a matter of individual circumstances. Somewhere on here is a pic posted by me of the avuncular Ken Clarke in the days when he was a junior transport minister riding a bike to publicise some doomed policy to promote cycling. I remember a media photo opportunity of Lynda Lander, now Baroness Chalker wobbling like a blancmange draped in flo-yellow doing something similar but not IIRC actually riding the bike. There have been various "cycling" politicians including Blair and Dave. I remember one newspaper report of an interview with another junior transport minister who had a folded Brompton prominently displayed in the corner of his office. Humbug.

There are some politicians - I suspect only few in number - who genuinely use a bike - Andrew Mitchell of Plebgate notoriety comes to mind. The fact that they don't milk it means we don't get to know if nothing newsworthy happens - such as a fuss about expenses. I've known a couple of Leeds City councillors who genuinely used a pedal cycle as a means of local travel.

[Lance Dopestrong]

They should be paid danger money for dodging car doors blindly flung open by Chris Grayling.

[horizon]

Can someone explain this to me - I'm completely baffled.

[Lance Dopestrong]

You know you can claim mileage for using your own car at work? You may not know, but you can also claim mileage for using a bicycle at work. This MP is doing pretty much that, albeit he's claiming the mileage from expenses rather than via the HMRC route.

Some folk, mainly non-cyclists I suspect, are jolly upset that he does this. I guess they'd far rather he used a car or taxis and claimed for that instead.

[Tangled Metal]

Grayling wouldn't use the Dutch reach because that's EU nonsense and we voted to leave I guess.

I think the point of this is an MP was using his bike quietly and without claiming credit. Then a newspaper did an article about expenses and lumped his claim for HMRC cycle mileage allowance as fiddling the expenses system.

IMHO the story is less about the mp and his legitimate cycling mileage expenses claim and more about the newspaper's attitude towards cyclists. Does anyone know if the times newspaper has an anti cycling agenda or bias? Any other major newspaper have such a bias / agenda?

[thirdcrank]

Also, the Daily Telegraph has been doing a follow up to its earlier MPs' expenses campaign - tenth anniversary (?)

[horizon]

You know you can claim mileage for using your own car at work? You may not know, but you can also claim mileage for using a bicycle at work. This MP is doing pretty much that, albeit he's claiming the mileage from expenses rather than via the HMRC route.

Some folk, mainly non-cyclists I suspect, are jolly upset that he does this. I guess they'd far rather he used a car or taxis and claimed for that instead.

Why are they upset? I'm still baffled.

[Lance Dopestrong]

Because they're twits!