It seems that the cycle-to-work scheme has gotten a lot of buzz lately. Australia has adopted the ride-to-work scheme. Just recently, Swisse announced that all of their employees are entitled to a $2,000 loan that will help them acquire cycling equipment they will use to go to work. These are just a few examples of the initiatives that promote the benefits of cycling and a more eco-friendly way to travel to and from work. There is a National Ride to Work Day observed every third Monday of June. In 2021, it celebrated its 30th observance of such a holiday that promotes the use of motorcycles, scooters, and bikes as the primary mode of work transportation.
5 Reasons to Ride to Work
The health benefits of cycling are the primary reason to consider ditching your car and biking to work. But what are these benefits? Learn more about the benefits of cycling and how you can maximise them.
1. Eco-friendly
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the transportation sector is one of the main contributors to air pollution. In the US alone, the greenhouse gas emissions from transport vehicles are responsible for 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Buses, cars, and trucks that are powered by fossil fuels are the biggest contributors to air pollution. They emit harmful substances such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.
2. Better your health
Is cycling good for weight loss? Yes, several factors can impact your ability to lose weight. However, the fact that riding a bike is an intense cardio workout can help you burn fat and calories.
You can also experience other health benefits of cycling such as improving your blood flow and increasing your heart rate when biking, which directly impacts your heart and lung health in a positive way. These factors can prevent you from getting chronic diseases like diabetes, heart attacks, cancer, and so forth.
Therefore, more companies all over the world are promoting the bike-to-work scheme. Some of the benefits that emerge from this scheme include reduced absenteeism and higher productivity as they tend to have happier and healthier employees.
3. Mental benefits
It’s not just your physical health that benefits from cycling; your mental health can get a boost, too.
Bikers report experiencing the "cycling high", which is comparable to the "runner's high." When you bike, your body pumps more blood which causes the release of endorphins and other positive hormones in the body. As a result, it improves your mood and general well-being.
A positive mood and mental outlook are one of the secrets to combating feelings of stress and depression. You can also experience other health benefits as a result of the improved mood and mental well-being, such as improved sleep quality and enhanced memory.
4. Reduce your transportation costs
his is a practical benefit that you can get when you choose to ride a bike to work. If you drive your car to work or take the bus or subway, you will account for the transportation fee as part of your regular expenses. With the rising fuel prices worldwide, you can also expect your transportation fee to rise.
But when you choose to ride your bicycle, there are no recurring expenses. Aside from the initial expenses involved with the acquisition of your cycling equipment, you don’t have to worry about paying for gas or maintenance.
5. Complete range of cycling facilities
With more workers choosing to cycle to work, we're also now seeing more initiatives to make the roads more bike-friendly. This is encouraging for those who are contemplating the idea to ditch their cars and biking instead.
In Australia for example, there are lots of cycling paths and parking spaces for bikes in most – if not all – establishments. This makes it easy to use your bike not just for work but for personal use and running errands.
Most offices have end-of-trip facilities available, too. This is becoming more common these days, especially as companies are taking the initiative to incentivize their employees to ride their bikes. Facilities such as secure parking and lockers for cycling accessories are a must. Some offices are equipped with showers and change rooms for those who've worked up a sweat on their ride to work.
If you're in Australia, riding a bike to work is now more convenient. Compass Offices’ centres in Sydney and Melbourne are equipped with end-of-trip facilities that make it more secure and convenient for workers who choose to ride their bikes to work. As an employer, it is your responsibility to address the basic needs and concerns of your employees. If you want to promote the ride-to-work culture within your organization, make sure you have adequate facilities to support that.