Bikes4Work programme launched.
bikes4work is an advisory service that can help organisations set up workplace bike fleets. Bike fleets can be set up in most workplaces where staff are required to travel on-site, between worksites or within the local area.
Benefits to employers include:
- Productivity increases and lower levels of absenteeism from a healthy and motivated workforce
- Transport cost savings, especially if your motor vehicle fleet can be reduced. Savings can also be made in taxi fares and car parking costs
- Reduced travel times, particularly where there is traffic congestion and parking is difficult to find
- Lower levels of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; and possibly carbon trading benefits through Carbon Planet (no really, we are looking at this now)
- An improved public image for your organisation - a bike fleet is a very visible way of demonstrating an investment in your employees’ health and fitness; and your concern for protecting the environment from global warming and pollution
Benefits to employees include:
- Improved health and fitness from increased levels of physical activity
- A quicker and more enjoyable way of getting around
I lived in Amsterdam for years and loved riding my classic Dutch city bike around. I really don’t enjoy the ride on my 18 speed mountain bike and long for a Dutch bike again. Bikes in the bike shops here all seem to be built to be strapped to cars and thrown down a mountain with you on top of it. I want a bike with a stand and mud-flaps, a comfy seat, panniers, chunky simple frame, thin-ish puncture proof tyres and no suspension. I want an electromagnetic hub for my lights and a capacitors in there somewhere to stop them going out when I stop moving for a few minutes. I use my bike for shopping, for commuting, as a mass transport system. Or I would if I didn’t have to share my bike paths with iPod wearing dog walkers and all manner of obstacle. Roads need to be remarked such that pedestrians, cyclists, car parks, busses and cars all get a place to go, and it’s in that order on the road. Cities need to get more bike friendly and that will happen with critical mass. So next time someone says “on yer bike,” say “Heck yeah!”. — DS
Technorati Tags: Australia, bicycle, bike, business, emissions reduction, energy efficiency, global warming
