Web Hosting Provider Memset Buys Electric Bikes for Staff to Protect Environment

HostReview.com
Tuesday, June 26, 2007; 06:09 AM

Dedicated web hosting provider Memset has purchased Urban Mover electric bikes for staff to travel to and from the company’s offices in Guildford, Surrey.

The move to introduce electric bikes as the preferred mode of transportation for the company’s employees comes not long after Memset qualified as the UK’s first carbon-neutral ISP with the Carbon Neutral Company in September 2006. A government initiative enabling employers to offer their employees an electric bike to use for commuting to and from work, without VAT, income tax or NI payable on the bike, also prompted the decision. Memset are able to give their staff a benefit, similar to a company car, but without the salary-sacrifice.

With road transportation responsible for 30% of greenhouse gases, according to the Energy Saving Trust, and UK road traffic predicted to rocket by up to 160% over the next 20-30 years, Memset’s use of electric bikes will significantly reduce petrol dependency, air pollution, and subsequent greenhouse effects.

The bikes, which are up to 99% less polluting than the cleanest fossil-fuel powered vehicles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, offers a real alternative to the huge costs of driving.

Tom Edie, from Natural Discovery a leading supplier of electric bikes, commented; “The bikes are virtually maintenance-free as they have few moving parts and fuel costs are minimal. The electricity for charging is the only fuel required and costs about 6p per 20-30km. Switching to a zero-emission electric bike for short journeys will not only save you money but help to spare our increasingly fragile planet at the same time.”

Electrically-assisted bicycles are road legal in the UK and require no MOT, no log book, no Tax disc, no congestion charges, no parking charges, no insurance and no rising carbon fuel costs.

Kate Craig-Wood, managing director of Memset and who is currently using one of the bikes, commented; “With three out of every five car journeys being less than five miles, we knew we could reduce the dependency on our cars by using electric bikes for the daily commute to work.”

She continued; “It’s really just like riding a normal bike, except that the small motor on board helps when you peddle. It takes the sting out of a steep hill or a journey that’s a bit too far, and keeps me fit as well. My commute to work is much more enjoyable, and I tend to get to work faster now I’m not stuck in the daily traffic jam.”

Memset is an award-winning dedicated web hosting company. Established in November 2002, the company was the first to offer high quality, flexible dedicated server packages on a fair and scalable pricing model. The development of their Miniserver™ technology has enabled Memset to be recognised as the leading developer and supplier of virtual dedicated server systems in the UK.

Memset is Britain's first Carbon Neutral ISP, was voted best UK Web Host 2006 by PC Pro readers and recently won Surrey's Innovation in Business award.