Plusnet Staff Take Part in New and Improved Cycling Programme

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July 11, 2012
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Plusnet Staff Take Part in New and Improved Cycling Programme

SHEFFIELD, England, July 11, 2012/PRNewswire/ --

    Plusnet has welcomed the launch of BikeBoost, a revamped cycling programme which aims
to encourage more Sheffield workers to cycle to work.

    The project - funded by Sheffield City Council through the Local Sustainable Transport
fund - is part of a scheme based in the North East of the city and is being delivered
jointly by Get Cycling, Pedal Ready and Heeley Development Trust.

    The scheme offers the free loan of a top-brand bike and cycle accessories, in order
for people to try their hand at cycling without the commitment of purchasing a bike. At
the end of the loan period, trialists can return the bike or look to purchase at a heavily
discounted cost from the high street.

    In addition to the free loan, trialists can also enlist the help and support of
cyclist instructors for bespoke road craft training; including accompaniment on the
initial journeys to and from work and cycle maintenance.

    "We're aiming to remove the hurdles that stop Sheffielders cycling," said Graeme
Symington, BikeBoost Project Officer. "We know that people don't want to spend money on a
decent bike unless they know they're going to use it and are often worried about dealing
with traffic and bike maintenance and repairs. This scheme addresses all those deterrents
and aims to get hundreds more people in the City cycling to work this year."

    Plusnet, a home and business broadband [http://www.plus.net ] company which employs
over 700 people, has recently moved to a new city centre office and has 57 staff taking
part in the trial. Mark Dundon, CIO of Plusnet and one of the firm's employees taking part
in the scheme said: "Plusnet is delighted to be the first company in Sheffield taking part
in the revamped scheme. Not only does the scheme help staff save money and get fit, it
also offers a much more reliable journey into work. I have been cycling for ten years now
but the advice of the cycle instructors from BikeBoost has really helped improve my
traffic awareness and the tricky issue of tram lines."

    Councillor Leigh Bramall, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development at
Sheffield City Council said: "BikeBoost is a great example of how we are working with
businesses across the city. There has been a fantastic response to the scheme so far from
Plusnet staff and I hope this enthusiasm continues across the scheme. We are working with
business across the city to help increase travel options and choice."

    BikeBoost is part of Sheffield's Cycleboost scheme. Sheffield City Council is funding
the scheme as part of the 4.9 million pounds, Local Sustainable Transport Fund settlement
won earlier this year by South Yorkshire from the Department for Transport.

    Cycleboost will run for at least three years and brings together Sheffield based
companies

    Pedal Ready, who provide cycling road craft sessions and Recycle Bikes, who provide
maintenance services to new and existing cyclists, along with Yorkshire based Get Cycling,
who run the Bikeboost loan scheme.

    The scheme will roll out to other companies, organisations and community groups in the
North East of the city this summer.

    For more information on go to http://www.bikeboost.org

    About Plusnet:

    Plusnet offers faster broadband deals [http://www.plus.net/packages ] and packages,
including Plusnet Value and Plusnet Extra broadband, both available to purchase with home
phone, fibre optic broadband [http://www.plus.net/fibre-broadband/?sourceÊrouselSwitch ]
and a prioritisation service, Plusnet Pro. Further broadband deals can be found on the
Plusnet website.

    Plusnet Value offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 10GB. Plusnet
Extra offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 60GB and free McAfee
security.

   
    PR Contact:
    Laura Mottram
    Head of PR
    2 Tenter Street
    Sheffield
    S1 4BT
    +44(0)114-273-3605
    http://www.plus.net

Source: Plusnet

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