The promotion of cycling commuting has become one of MITMA’s major goals.
Recently, MITMA submitted, in line with its State Bicycle Strategy, its Bike to Workcampaign, designed to encourage employees to use bicycles as a regular means of transport. To encourage this campaign, they launched a good practice bank that companies should consider if they want their employees to change mobility dynamics.
Although more and more companies are joining in, many others have not yet implemented a sustainable transport incentive strategy, which must always include the development of a Transport to Work Plan.
14 best practices for getting your employees to cycle to work
MITMA establishes 14 basic recommendations for companies (plus an additional one, which is to join the #effectobicicleta) for companies to encourage cycling to work. As following:
- Positioning active mobility and public transport within the Sustainable Transport to Work Plans.
- Reconciling work schedules by making them flexible, facilitating movement by bicycle according to the circumstances of each employee.
- Providing secure bicycle parking spaces for basic maintenance.
- Providing changing rooms and showers for those who cycle long distances.
- Using “bike to work” apps or systems to organize bike routes to cycle to work together.
- Purchasing bicycles for loan to employees, as well as facilitating the use of municipal bicycle sharing systems.
- Conducting communication campaigns to encourage company staff to use the bicycle on a daily basis.
- Facilitating training activities on sustainable mobility.
- Although this measure does not directly concern employees, another good practice indicated is the prioritisation of suppliers who use cycling in their parcel deliveries.
- Joining professional platforms on sustainable mobility, contributing to a more bicycle-friendly corporate brand image.
- If promotional campaigns and discounts are carried out for employees, prioritizing companies or cycling tourism or active mobility initiatives.
- Offering incentives or added benefits to those who adopt active mobility in their work commuting and put them ahead of private motor vehicle commuting.
- Organising after-hours networking activities for cycling routes.
- Certifying as a “bicycle-friendly company”, for example through the Cycle-Friendly Employer Certificate issued by the European Cyclist Federation. By the way, at Mobility by Cycling Friendly we also have certifications for buildings that meet the appropriate sustainable mobility requirements.
If you are a company and you need help to incorporate some of the recommended good cycling practices, Mobility by Cycling Friendly can help you to change the way your employees commute to work.