Large organizations are putting a lot of effort into making their mobility more sustainable, without this necessarily having to lead to higher costs.
Cycling to work is becoming increasingly popular and appears to play a key role in making mobility within Dutch companies more sustainable. This is evident from recent research by Shuttel, which found a 226% increase in business bicycle traffic. This explosive growth contrasts sharply with the popularity of public transport, where the use of the train in particular has fallen by 24% compared to last year.
Klaas Pieter Roemeling, director of Shuttel, explains that this shift not only contributes to sustainability, but also brings significant cost savings. “Large organizations are clearly making efforts to make their mobility more sustainable, without this necessarily leading to higher costs. Cycling is a sustainable alternative that contributes to the vitality of employees and saves costs at the same time,” says Roemeling.
The increase in bicycle use is partly due to incentive policies within companies, such as higher mileage allowances and the offering of lease bicycles. Cycling is seen as an efficient alternative, especially for short distances, up to about 7,5 kilometers with a regular bicycle and up to 15 kilometers with an e-bike. These measures fit well within a broader trend of sustainable and vital entrepreneurship.
“If companies get employees to cycle, they will use the car less often, but also less often other means of public transport such as bus, tram or metro, which are mainly used for shorter distances. This results in immediate savings, as the average cost per kilometer for these means of transport is approximately 34 euro cents,” Roemeling adds. Many companies offer a bicycle allowance up to the maximum tax amount of 23 cents, making it attractive for both the employee and the employer.
"More and more companies are focusing on sustainability and vitality, without this leading to higher mobility costs. The great thing is that cycling offers a very good sustainable alternative to the car, especially for employees who travel less than 7.5 kilometers with a regular bicycle and less than 15 kilometers from their workplace with an e-bike."
Despite the declining popularity of public transport, especially in the train sector, there has been a slight increase in absolute numbers. This suggests that although the share is decreasing, overall mobility is increasing due to more flexible working arrangements and an increase in overall travel volume.
Another interesting development that emerges from the research is the increase in working from home days. Employees are structuring their working day more and more flexibly, often combining business travel with working from home. This illustrates a shift in the way work is approached, made possible by tax regulations that allow specific combinations of compensation.
Shuttel, a collaboration between Pon and Volkswagen Financial Services, has proven itself over the past ten years as a leading provider of integrated mobility solutions. With more than 125 corporate customers and 250.000 employees in their network, including companies such as the Dutch government and FrieslandCampina, Shuttel continues to offer innovative solutions that make mobility more accessible and pleasant.
