Bicycle Network Victoria: Skill Up

Bikes save us money, say employers

27 January 2009. People who ride a bike to work are ill less often, take less days off work, and save Dutch employers A$56M a year, according to a new report.

On average they take one sick day per year less than their non-cycling colleagues.

The report was commissioned by Dutch State Secretary and the Minister of Public Health, Well-being and Sport, Tineke Huizinga. It examined the relationship between riding to work, the work performance and sick leave.

It concluded that if the number of employees that ride to work increases by 1%, employers can save approximately 27 million Euro per year.

The study also asked those surveyed about motivation to ride to work. In Holland almost one third of the employees cycle regularly to work.

Health was the most important reason to ride. For non-riders the most important obstructing factors: too far/distance; home location; arriving sweaty at work; and the travel time.

The government will soon trial a new policy with companies offering ride to work incentives.