Paul Cossey is the pastor at Motueka Baptist Church in the spectacular Tasman region.
I have recently begun riding my e-bike to work and will regularly turn up for a visit or meeting on my bike wearing hi-vis.
The opportunity to buy a bike seemed a long way off. I had been considering getting a bike to reduce my car use and enjoy the environment where I live and work and that I care about.
Three years earlier, I had taken some time to explore challenges and opportunities around caring for the environment, pollution, and the changes we are all facing. I became convinced that as a follower of Jesus, I share a responsibility to be more mindful and intentional about the size of my footprint on the planet and how to better care for God’s good creation.
In January, I found out about a benefit programme to help with the affordability of purchasing an e-bike called WorkRide (workride.co.nz). The programme requires the employer (including self-employed) to offer to pay the purchase price of any bike, e-bike or scooter of the employee’s choice. This is repaid by employees agreeing to sacrifice part of their pre-tax pay (salary sacrifice) and commit to riding to work and/or using their bike for work purposes. As New Zealand’s only approved provider, WorkRide removes the insurmountable employer risks, compliance challenges, and administrative burdens, allowing businesses to confidently offer this benefit without the associated risk. WorkRide has gained IRD’s approval for the benefit programme. My employer, Motueka Baptist Church, was pleased to support the purchase.
It has enabled me to make the purchase sooner than it would have been possible and given me a significant saving on the overall cost of the bike (see the WorkRide website for the “Savings Estimator”). I benefit from the exercise, the lower fuel cost, the enjoyment of riding in our beautiful region, and the feeling that I am doing what I can to make a difference.
You can find out more by going to WorkRide’s website, or you can connect with me [email protected]
Photo: Paul riding his e-bike in the spectacular Tasman region.
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Every day, we see reports of a changing environment and concerning future scenarios. What is a reasonable way for churches and Christians to respond? In this podcast, New Zealand Baptist pastor Steve Worsley interviews globally recognised experts and local practitioners to seek a way forward that is biblically informed, mindful of the global situation and aware of the significant ways our churches can be part of the answer.
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