More and more employers indicate that they encourage their employees to use the bicycle for business use. But the employee doesn't feel that way yet. There is therefore still plenty of profit to be made, because more than half of the companies are currently doing nothing to get their staff on a bicycle, e-bike or speed pedelec. “While the willingness among employees is growing. And the advantages of the bicycle are obvious”, says Lonneke van der Horst, Marketing & Strategy Director at ALD Automotive. A survey by leasing company ALD Automotive among more than 1.000 working Dutch people shows that 24 percent of employers promote the bicycle as an alternative means of transport among their employees. An increase of 6 percent from 2020, when ALD Automotive asked professionals the same question. This year it appears that 55 percent of companies do not yet have an active policy to get employees to work by bicycle.
Commuting distance seems like a barrier
ALD Automotive meanwhile, sees the willingness among employees increasing. As a percentage, the number of working people who cycle to work is on the rise. 51 percent express a wish to use their bicycle on a regular basis. Almost a quarter of working Dutch people would even like to cycle to work every day post-corona. Before corona this was still 19 percent.
“So there are opportunities here that we can make better use of. For the time being, distance still seems to be the biggest barrier for many people, while for most people this distance can easily be bridged with an e-bike or speed pedelec. Especially if the bicycle is offered through the employer”.
Bicycle incentive is missing
The survey also shows that 62 percent of employees expect to cycle to and from work more often if they qualify for a lease bicycle through their employer. More than a fifth, 21 percent, also indicated that refreshment options at work would also help to use the bicycle for commuting more often. Other ways for employers to ensure that employees cycle more often is by offering them a financial compensation (38 percent) or a savings or loyalty program (34 percent).
“Most workers own an ordinary city bicycle. This is not always suitable for bridging longer distances. Through the employer, employees can more easily obtain an e-bike, which ensures that you can easily cover commuting distances of 15-25 kilometers.”
Abolish addition
As of 2020, the fixed addition on the bicycle has been simplified with a fixed addition of 7%. A good start, but that could be even more attractive. In Belgium, for example, the share of leased bicycles is growing very strongly. There, purchase and use are substantially stimulated by the government. For example, as an employee of our southern neighbours, you do not pay an addition if you cycle on average one day a week and the employer may pay travel expenses on the days that the company bicycle is used. In Belgium, adjustments to the business premises, such as charging and refreshment facilities, are also fully deductible. “The Dutch government could take an example from that,” says Lonneke van der Horst.
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