For many Dutch people, the car is still the automatic choice for commuting. Take the keys, get in, leave. Even at distances where the bicycle is a realistic alternative, the car often wins out over the steel steed. Yet something seems to be tilting. Rising fuel prices, congestion on the road, growing attention to vitality and better facilities from employers ensure that work-related bicycle mobility is taken more and more seriously. The question is therefore more relevant than ever: how do we make cycling not just an option, but the most attractive choice for commuting?
Status quo: the car is still too often the starting point
Despite all the attention for sustainability and vitality, the car remains the standard in many organizations. Certainly within work-related mobility, the mobility system has for years been designed around accessibility by car: lease constructions, parking spaces and travel expenses often still form the basis. This while the potential is enormous. According to figures shared by Gwen Jansen of Coalitie Anders Reizen in a recent LinkedIn post, some 900,000 Dutch people live within cycling distance of their work, within a 15 kilometer radius, but do not yet choose to do so. This is striking, especially in a country where cycling infrastructure is world-class. Apparently, choosing mobility is about more than infrastructure. It is about behavior, convenience, habits and temptation.
Why do people choose to cycle?
Those who regularly bike to work often cite the same benefits: freedom, exercise, less stress and no traffic jams. For many people, cycling feels more efficient than standing still in morning traffic. Your day starts more active and ends with an empty head instead of frustration behind the wheel. Employers are responding to this more and more intelligently. For example, KPN increased the bicycle allowance to €0.40 per kilometer, significantly higher than the allowance for car drivers. According to RTL Z, this measure means that one in four employees now cycles to the office. In addition, the company encourages bicycle use with lease constructions and attention to vitality. Within Coalitie Anders Reizen, according to Gwen Jansen, member employers see a clear movement towards a kind of "Bicycle VIP" approach. Cyclists are no longer seen as a niche group, but as an important target group within mobility policy.
Employers are betting on:
- higher bicycle allowances
- Interest-free loans for bicycles
- lease bikes
- smart apps with rewards and incentives
- Awareness campaigns and trial days
For example, employees save points by cycling and can redeem them for local benefits, such as lunch or products from local entrepreneurs. Some organizations even link cycling routes to gamification and rewards along the way. The common thread? Cycling shouldn't feel like "the sustainable choice," but the smartest, most enjoyable and most attractive choice.
What hinders people to use the bicycle?
At the same time, there are still plenty of barriers. Because no matter how attractive the advantages sound, many people experience practical objections. An important factor is the lack of facilities. Those who arrive sweaty and without a shower, who have no secure bicycle storage or nowhere to charge an e-bike, are more likely to opt for the car. Especially with longer distances or changing weather conditions, these things play a major role. In addition, habits are stubborn. For many people, the car still feels more comfortable, faster or more reliable. Social norms also play a role: within some organizations, driving has simply become the norm. Weather conditions also remain a mental barrier. Rain on the road sounds less attractive if there are no comfortable facilities in return. This is precisely why the solution often lies not only in motivation, but also in practical support.
What can employers do concretely?
Employers have a key role in the transition to more work-related bicycle mobility. Not by obliging employees, but by making cycling more attractive and easier. Concrete measures that are increasingly common are:
- Safe and covered bicycle parking places
- Showers and changing rooms
- charging points for e-bikes
- Lease bikes or interest-free bike loans
- Higher mileage allowances for cyclists
- bicycle repair or bicycle repair on location
- activation campaigns and trial days
- apps with incentives and rewards
Especially the combination of financial benefits and comfort proves effective. When employees notice that cycling literally and figuratively delivers something, behavior changes faster. In addition, there is a growing awareness that investing in cycling goes beyond mobility alone. More energetic employees, less sick leave, less parking pressure and a more sustainable image make it increasingly interesting for employers to invest in this.
Higher petrol prices give bicycle use an extra impulse
The recent rise in fuel prices is accelerating that movement. According to Coalitie Anders Reizen, many member organizations are seeing employees thinking more consciously about their mobility choices. This is in line with the recent "Spoedplan voor minder aardolie" by the Dutch Sustainable Energy Association (NVDE), which calls for less dependence on oil and more commitment to sustainable mobility, including cycling, public transport and working from home. That price incentive helps, but experts stress at the same time that cost should not be the only driver. The real transition only occurs when cycling is made structurally more attractive in terms of convenience, health, experience and accessibility. Or as it is slowly beginning to feel within progressive organizations: the cyclist is no longer the exception, but the preferred traveler.
The future perspective of work-related bicycle mobility
The future of commuting will probably be less black and white. Not everyone has to or can get on a bike completely. But precisely the combination of cycling, working from home, public transport and smart mobility choices offers enormous opportunities. The e-bike in particular is drastically changing the playing field. Distances of 10 to 20 kilometers suddenly become feasible for much larger groups of employees. That greatly increases the potential impact. Work-related bicycle mobility is thus shifting from "sustainable alternative" to a serious pillar within modern mobility policy. The organizations that now invest in attractive facilities, smart incentives and awareness are not only building more sustainable transportation, but also healthier employees, livable cities and attractive employers. So the question is no longer whether bicycles will play a greater role in commuting. The real question is: which organizations dare to lead by bike?
