Helmeted employees are good for business, according to Bicycle Victoria.
Businesses that encourage staff to cycle to work benefit from increased productivity as a result of improved fitness and mental health. The fact is healthy employees are more efficient and productive.
Riding to work also ensures that people arrive at work motivated and exhilarated and ready to hit the ground running. By encouraging cycling to work absenteeism can be reduced by up to 80 per cent. For longer distances, staff can combine cycling with other forms of travel, such as public transport.
Some direct financial benefits gained by an organisation that promotes a cycle-friendly policy are:
- Reduction in car fleet costs
- Reduction in fuel costs
- Reduction in fringe benefits tax
- Reduction in registration/insurance/licensing/RACV membership fees
- Reduction in tyre, servicing, and repair costs
- Reduction in taxi costs in and around the city
- Reduction in car parking costs (10 bicycles can be parked in one car space)
- Reduction in car parking levies
- Reduction in petrol cards
- Reduction in car parking costs.
Organisations wanting to encourage their staff to ride to work should visit the National Ride to Work website and registration online to receive a free support pack.
To encourage city workers to ride to work, the City of Melbourne and the Department of Transport have provided a bike pod in City Square. The bike pod is a shower & change facility for city workers, students and tourists who cycle to and from the city. Find out more about the bike pod.