WITH all this recent talk of some MPs getting freebies paid for by the British public, I remembered the saying “if you can’t beat them join them” – then I thought: if we’re not allowed to ‘beat’ them, then at least we could put them in the stocks and throw mouldy cabbages and squashed tomatoes at them.

As if the fact they’re politicians isn’t enough, seeing them “on the take” (Jacqui Smith’s claim apparently included the cost of scatter cushions) as well adds insult to injury.

As for getting our own freebies, I’d rather get them without the allegation of corruption, thanks, so it’s nice to find out that we too can enjoy a free ride.

The Government’s Cycle to Work Initiative offers tax incentives to buy bikes for those people who would use them to commute to work.

For those of you who are not familiar with it, the scheme allows PAYE employees (the self-employed don’t qualify, unfortunately) to benefit from a long-term loan of a new bicycle as a tax-free benefit on the condition that the bicycle is mainly used to get to and from work.

At the end of the loan period, the employee can also buy the bike outright at a very cheap rate.

The typical saving for an average tax-payer on the normal purchase price of a bike is up to 50 per cent.

One good thing about the scheme is that you don’t have to get a rubbish bike that the Government says is on its list of “you can buy this one”.

This avoids my nightmare of “choose any bike you like, as long as it’s pink, and with only three gears”.

Luckily this isn’t the case. More than 1,000 approved suppliers, including many small independent bike shops, have signed up rather than just allowing the larger suppliers to enjoy all the business.

I typed in my postcode and almost any bike shop you can think of in town was there.

So to get your bike there’s a bit of form filling (sorry!) but, basically, you go to your bike shop and choose your bike, your helmet, lock and lights and then get a form to take to your employer.

Once that’s filled in you go back to the shop with a form and ID, and pick up the goodies, and your employer sorts out the rest through your monthly pay packet.

As for what’s in it for the Government?

More people get on bikes, so we get fitter and cost the NHS less in the long run on lots of high blood pressure pills, illnesses linked with obesity and spend less time in hospital with heart problems; there’s less congestion on the roads, pollution is cut, and so on … it’s a win-win situation.

Actually when you list all the reasons to cycle to work rather than drive, I start thinking maybe someone from Government should turn up at each of our doors with a shiny new bike … and maybe a pat on the back, letter of thanks from the Queen and perhaps a phone call from Bob Geldof (hey, Department for Transport, if you’re reading this – make my call from Colin Firth – swoon!).

Next week… how to get free chocolate, chips and beer!