Employers: Our tips for encouraging bicycle touring in winter

Since the 2000s, the velotaffeur community has grown significantly. Today, they represent some 500,000 people among French professionals (source: Fédération française des usagers de la bicyclette – FUB). In fact, the practice has been around for over 120 years, but it’s only in the last few years that it’s begun to be widely used. This increase in the number of users can be explained by the many advantages offered by the velotaf, such as a better quality of life, financial savings, time savings, a reduced environmental footprint and other benefits that are no secret to anyone.

With the onset of winter, cycling may seem less attractive, leading some to abandon their good resolutions until next spring. But with a few tips, the right equipment and the support of a committed employer, cycling to work in winter can become child’s play!

WHY GET INVOLVED IN EMPLOYEE ECOMOBILITY?

Here are some important points for companies:

• Since 2019, a company offering free bicycle services to its employees can benefit from a tax reduction.

• One car parking space can be used to create 6 to 10 bicycle parking spaces.

• According to a MEDEF study , a sedentary person who takes up cycling improves productivity by 6 to 9%.

• The results of a study in Denmark showed that employees who cycle to work are on average 15% less absent than others.

• An employer’s involvement in promoting cycling as a means of transport can earn it the ” Employeur pro vélo” label.

Adapting your spaces to accommodate bicycle-riders

It’s important to provide space for bicycles to be protected and parked.

In winter, cyclists need to be able to park their bikes and store their belongings safely, protected from the elements.

To meet this challenge, we can help you create dedicated spaces with secure open or closed bike shelters, bike repair equipment such as the Deluxe repair station or the wall-mounted toolbox, inflation stations, recharging racks for e-bikes and electric scooters, and even bike-loading bays.

Improve the comfort of your bike-sharers by installing a changing room with lockers/storage space, showers and changing cubicles.
Offering your employees a complete range of parking facilities is a concrete way of encouraging them and getting involved in this eco-responsible approach.

Some companies provide their employees with fleets of bicycles for personal use during lunch breaks, for business trips and for commuting.

Encourage practice and communicate with your employees

Inform and encourage cycle-sharers by implementing concrete actions as part of your CSR approach.

Since the development of the practice, some companies have supported their employees by distributing safety kits (reflective vests, lighting kits, vouchers, rainproof clothing, etc.) to ensure that bike-riders have all the equipment they need to pedal in the cold.

It’s also very effective to promote the cycling approach. You can organize mobility challenges, information meetings, rides, occasional outings or even cycling training courses. These activities help create a cycling community, and it’s easier to motivate more than one person.

Communicating best practices for the winter period

To increase their safety and make it easier for them to get around, you can share a few tips with your employees:

By communicating with your employees about good cycling practices, they’ll feel involved in the process. This information can be centralized in common areas, through the distribution of flyers or at information meetings.

It’s always a good idea to remember that bicycles need to be equipped for winter, with mudguards to protect against splashing water or salt, tires in good condition to grip the ground and prevent falls, and functional, standard-compliant lights to ensure visibility to other road users. Encourage your staff to wear the right clothing for cycling in good conditions, such as gloves, waterproof overshoes, hats, helmets, neck warmers, goggles, thermal layers, long tights, waterproof pants, waterproof ponchos, windproof jackets and so on.

The Geovélo bike GPS application helps cyclists navigate their bikes by calculating safe itineraries and offering a rich catalog of routes and rides on suitable bikes. What’s more, the mobile application helps cities improve their bike paths, and makes cycling more fun with regular challenges.

Present the financial benefits available to bicycle tour operators

The financial advantage of cycling is a major asset. Not only does it save on the cost of a car (gas, maintenance, insurance, etc.), it also offers the possibility of benefiting from certain financial aid schemes.

The Forfait Mobilité Durable (FMD) is a financial support scheme for employees in the private and public sectors to encourage commuting.

The “prime vélo” scheme, which came into force on January¹, 2023, is a subsidy for the purchase of bicycles. It can be combined with the public transport bonus, and provides 40% of the cost of a new bicycle or VAE, subject to income.

You now have the cards you need to encourage your bike-sharers to continue cycling this winter, and even to encourage others to do the same! If you have a project in mind, don’t hesitate to contact us – our sales team will be delighted to help.

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