The Cycle Nation Project (Phase 2: Feasibility)

Summary

Interventions to increase the number of people cycling regularly are likely to induce a range of health and societal benefits, including reduced incidence of heart disease, cancer and obesity, improved mental health and well-being, and reduced road congestion and air pollution. They are also likely to provide tangible financial and in-kind benefits to employers and society, through reduced workforce absenteeism, increased productivity and decreased use of NHS resources. However, increasing the number of people cycling regularly is complex and interventions undertaken to date have only been modestly successful. Thus, to induce a step-change in the number of people cycling in the United Kingdom (UK), in line with British Cycling and HSBC UK's stated aim of getting two million more people on bikes, new approaches are needed.

The research team have been working with staff and management at British Cycling and HSBC to co-develop a novel, multi-component intervention for delivery at HSBC offices to increase the number of employees cycling regularly. The intervention has four main components: 1) a six (intermediate) or nine (foundation) week practical skills programme; 2) cycle provision (tune-up/loan/subsidised purchase) schemes; 3) establishment of a cycle-friendly workplace culture; 4) a cycle app. The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of this intervention in a before-and-after study in four HSBC offices around the UK.

Conditions

• Health Behavior

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cycle Nation Multicomponent Intervention

This intervention group will receive 4 elements: 1. Practical skills programme: a workplace-based programme covering basic cycling skills, delivered by trained 'cycle champions' - HSBC staff members. 2. Cycle provision scheme: participants will have the opportunity to have their own bicycles serviced or obtain a loaned bike or e-bike from local bike shops before the start of the programme. 3. Cycle-friendly workplace culture: all offices taking part will have a minimum of secure bike parking facilities as part of an ongoing roll-out of cycle infrastructure across HSBC UK offices. 4. Our Cycle Hub app: an adapted version of an existing HSBC app including route planning, goal setting and practical skills videos, as well as supportive social interaction among participants.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Edinburgh

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Glasgow

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jason MR Gill, PhD · University of Glasgow

• Cindy M Gray, PhD · University of Glasgow

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-08-05

Primary Completion

2020-04-30

Completion

2021-03-31

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations