“I think this is a great idea, but actually I think it should be extended to cover commuting as well. The whole point is to incentivise cycling as a mode of transport, so that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. One point is finance, but this needs to be looked at on shorter journeys. Sutton, for example, is Zone 5, so anyone who lives in Wallington, Waddon, Carshalton or even Croydon and commutes to Sutton will spend £1.50 each way, which therefore isn't a huge saving if you go by car. However, if you take the £3 daily saving and add the expenses for 45p per mile, it starts to add up a little. I accept the councillor's point that there needs to be proof so that people don't milk the system, but this can easily be resolved.

Squired, Barneyboxer and Neveragain17 are right though, this man is very out of touch when he quotes £100 for a bicycle. What, a stolen one being flogged on eBay? Even a half-decent bike will cost 3/4 times that, and then you also need to add lights, clothes etc. Proper clothes aren't cheap, especially with winter coming, and it all adds up.

What the whole thing boils down to, like I said, is making it so that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

Two other ways of doing that would be better cycle routes and compulsory training for drivers before they can get their licence. All drivers, not just lorry drivers. Then maybe they would have a better understanding of the impact their driving can have on cyclists.”

“I think this is a great idea, but I would argue they should go further and apply it for commutes too. For shorter journeys there needs to be an incentive - ie Sutton is in Zone 5 and so if you live in Zone 5 it's only £1.50 each way to work, so saving money isn't much of an incentive. However if you're adding to that amount you're saving the rate of 45p per mile it suddenly becomes much more attractive to cycle to work.

And Squired, NeverAgain17 and BarneyBoxer are right - £100 for a bike? From where, la-la land? Even a half decent bike (which isn't stolen, obviously I'm not including thieves' market eBay here) costs 3-4 times that. Added to which is clothing, lights, etc - all that adds up.

In my opinion it alls comes down to encouraging people onto bikes, and this will help. Better cycle routes would help too, and better education for car drivers.”

“I don't have a problem with it personally. If they are cycling through the year they will also need different shoes, jackets, a helmet (if they choose to wear one), lights, etc. All these costs add up. Oh, and they will need fuel (just in the form of food).

What would be interesting is to see what sort of distances people are driving and the time to destination. I bet the cyclists can do some of the shorter journeys quicker and also that some of the journeys are short enough that using a car is excessive anyway.”

“More drivel from a stupid Tory half-wit”

“I want to live in this magical land where you can buy a bike for £100 and it will stand the rigours of pot holed South London and the gears and brakes won't need adjustment every other day before failing completely. Where lights, locks and cycling clothing are given away free.

When the national cycling body the Cyclists Touring Club conducted a member survey earlier this year the average spend on a new bike was found to be circa £1000.

I do hope that Mr Shields' dodgy maths wasn't a Freudian slip, surely he does Council business more than one day a week?

I think Sutton Council should be applauded for being so forward thinking and I wish other local authorities would follow this example in encouraging a more environmentaly responsible mode of transport. According to TFL the average car journey in London is less than two miles. I wonder how many of those are made by councillors or council employees.”

“Right. He's right on ONE point. Bicycles are cheaper to run and maintain than cars, so yeah, the 40 odd p per mile is comparatively worth 'more' to us than to a car driver.

That said, why the hell should you penalise someone for choosing to cycle rather than drive? I can bet any money all of these employees have cars too, and so if they take away this allowance all that will happen is they will drive instead, so it won't save them any money, just clog up the roads a little more!

As for a '100 pound bike' just shows how out of touch he is. That only just cover my pedals you moron!

This schemes so good I'm going to suggest it's taken up at my work, where you do get a mileage allowance if you are asked to make a trip beyond your normal commute, but my work only pays for cars... personally I the the police and many other business shoukd be encouraging more environmentally friendly and healthier means of travelling!”

“I hope Mr shields isn't in charge of finance!

"10 miles a day and that's £4.50, or £18 a month"”

“Lol, Was she paid 45p by the mile?”

“I think I used to date a girl who turned out to be the local council bike”