The most encouraging reasons to bike to work

The results of a study on mobility habits by the IRSE-EBI come to a very surprising conclusion; an increasing number of people show their interest in commuting to work by bike.

Let’s face it: if everyone who says they cycle to work actually did it, things might be different. It’s like TV 2 documentaries, that everyone claims to see, but whose audience is not very close to that of Temptation Island.

Currently, the modal share of commuting by bike in many cities is no more than 3%, almost residual. But its potentiel is so much bigger.

In recent weeks we have been working on a preliminary studyof the mobility habits of the employees of the Euskadi Institute for Social Reintegration and the motivations to change old habits. And the results are encouraging.

Currently, car use makes up the majority. Does this scenario sound familiar? Despite the fact that there is already a strong engagement of the employees who participated in the study towards cycling.

The most relevant data are unanimity in the need for more durable models and the bike-wide-acceptance as a standard bearer.

Up to 62% of the employees surveyed would be willing to use the bicycle as a regular means of transport to work.

Specially, about 13.5% of the workforce would always use it, while 48.6% would use a combination with other transport modes.

Can you imagine, from 3% to 62%? Our Garden of Eden for sustainable mobility. The impact on emissions, noise or health-related quality of life would be beyond wildest dreams.

But is it really so crazy that this change might take place?

The data underlines the social and environmental awareness of the employees and the successful commitment of the organization in this ambitious project.

In addition, the same study noted that environmental commitmentand better health are the most valued motivations (4.6 out of 5) to change old transport behaviors.

We feel very identified with these motivators and very happy to be on the right track.

However, meeting these bike usage quotas and foster a cycle-to-work culturerequire improvements in the urban cycle lane infrastructure, as well as the provision of secure bicycle parking facilities. Twokey points to develop urban cycling.

This initiative of the Euskadi Institute for Social Reintegration aims to analyze the contribution of biking to these objectives and to integrate healthy and sustainable mobility habits, both among employees and users.

The Institute is a non-profit organization that aims to improve the quality of life of those exposed to processes of lack of protection or exclusion.

And what about you, what do you need to cycle to work?

#WeRideAgainstClimateChange